Fiber Jewels

Starting over, again

2011-10-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

Where do I start?

In many ways dip netting was a great success. We got lots fish, I ended up with 30 which I cleaned, filleted, then half were frozen and the other half was canned.

We had a great family week, with lots of hard work and laughter.

But, sadly, the first two days were filled with stress over one member that felt he didn't have to help. Once he realized helping was part of the deal, things got better and we had a blast. But the damage was done.

It was my BF's 15 year old son.

For two days he pulled his "don't wanna, ain't gonna" routine he often did, especially the first several days his dad would leave for the slope.

He didn't help, he argued, didn't like what we were eating for meals, he acted like he expected to be waited on.

While everyone was busy loading up the "beach mobile" he would climb in and wait. When asked to help, he would walk away, pretending not to hear.

When moving our day camp and down the beach with the tide, at first, he would get up and expect someone else to move the chair he was sitting in.

When it was his turn at the net, he refused to go in because the fish weren't running and he only got two fish the day before.

The stress in camp caused by his attitude got so thick you could cut it with a knife and I finally told him he would help and be part of the team, or he would be grounded when we got back to town: one week, no x-box, no ipad. I walked away and let him think about it.

The following day, when it was his turn at the net, he took it, no arguments. When loading up for our day at the beach, he helped, he asked what he could do. His stepping up and doing the right thing turned everything around. The stress was gone, everyone relaxed, everyone had fun, we worked hard, and laughed harder!

The last day we talked about how, once we figured it all out, we all had fun. "Next year, we know what to do!" BF's son said he enjoyed his time, once he started to help and looked forward to next year!

But the damage was done.

When he was refusing to help, the boy had spoken to his dad, I received a text "stop making it miserable for him!" No questions about what the boy may or may not have done, but the assumption the boy was telling the truth. TheBF continued to blame me for making a "camping trip" that was supposed to be fun miserable for his son.

This wasn't the first time I felt I needed to put the hammer down, and got chewed out by BF for being "mean."

BF refused to listen to my side, and, after a lot of tears, I realized I couldn't deal with the whole situation and left.

I miss the family we had, but I won't be in a relationship where a child can tell lies about me and his dad will believe them before ever speaking to me.

It has been hard. Went into a little funk, haven't knit or spun anything until just recently.

Slowly taking one step at a time into the future of my new life.

How does one handle dating in your late 40's? This is so hard.

and I am off....

2011-07-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

Every year, my family goes dip-netting for salmon the the Kasilof. Last year, I was only able to watch as I wasn't yet an "Alaskan Resident" but now I am a "real Alaskan"!

We will head out tomorrow. My house will be able to get 45 salmon -- that scares me. What does one do with 45 salmon? The boyfriend (BF) heads off to his job on the North Slope tomorrow and will be gone for 3 weeks.

That leaves me to deal with whatever fish we manage to get -- gulp!!!

Needless to say, the Tour de Fleece spinning will be put on hold until our return (I think we have this weeknd off for a rest anyway, maybe).

So far, I have gotten three skeins completed, and have one on the wheel.

FAR LEFT: The blue is 50/50 silk and merino 4 oz. three ply. Didn't get as much as I would have liked, but I am very happy with the way the yarn turned out. 282 yards

MIDDLE: all sparkly and neon pink and neon green, mixed with black--"Hot Nights". Two ply; about 110 yards.

FAR RIGHT: "Chocolate Dipped" deep browns with richt pinks and sparlkes - single ply - 270 yards.

My spinning will stay home, my knitting will come with.

Bored?!

2011-07-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

BF's (Boy-friend) son often says "I'm bored" and I think, "I WISH I could be bored!"

There are days I wish were just a little longer as I have the following "hobbies":

* Knit
* Spin
* Ride horse (rode her 10 miles yesterday -- it was a blast, just her and I)
* Target Practice with my 9 mm pistol
* Blog
* Bead
* Run an Etsy store
* Read
* Garden
* Blog

I NEED to:

* Practice up for job interviews (I am a special education teacher and am good at what I do, but not so with interviews right now as I look for a full-time job to help pay for the horse mentioned above)
* change my name on various credit card accounts, passport, etc. from divorce over a year ago
* Learn how to can food
* clean and organize my house (YIKES)
* Get two pairs of socks knitted (one was finally completed)
* Get ready for a fishing trip (the hunting trip fell to the wayside--sad)

And, right now, I need to get to the store and pick up eggs (at 3 times the price as in town) so I can finish the potato salad I'm bringing tot he 4th of July Picnic!

I wish I could have one day of being bored -- but I am too ADD for that, I'm sure after 5 1/2 minutes of being bored, I'd find something to do!

Tour de Fleece -- July 2 - 24, 2011

2011-07-02T10:12:00.001-07:00

Okay, I really do not think I will be able to spin all 14 fleeces I have during the next 22 days. But, I will give it my best shot!

Today I popped out of bed, enjoyed the quietness of the house as the others slept. Brewed a pot of coffee, sat down to spin a half hour or so, and two hours later, I looked at the clock and low and behold, I got 120 (+/-) minutes of spinning in!!!

My goals are simple:

1. Complete what I currently have on the bobbins. I had one bobbin completed of this beautiful 50/50 silk merino. I am attempting to spin 820 + yards of 3 ply fingering. This morning I was able to almost complete the second bobbin. I love spinning this beautiful roving. I am hoping to have enough to knit the Forget-me-not Shawl.

2. Play with this lovely roving from LittleMonkeySns. A wonderfully soft and luxurious batt -- the pictures did NOT do this roving justice. It is called "Chocolate Dipped" with 52% Merino, 42% bamboo, and 6% nylon sparkle. Not sure what it will become other than yarn. Am thinking I might try to knit a hat with it. It will become what it will become. After the stress of 820 yards 3 ply fingering, this will be a wonderful break.

3. Finish spinning some boring natural BFL that is to knit into a bag to be felted (need it to go with some other wonderful self-striping yarn I spun over a year ago).

4. Back to fun as I spin some more roving from LittleMonkeySns -- it is the wonderful green/orange braid in the front left of the basket.

This will push me! If I get those 4 goals done, I will play with the 5 +/- ounces from the Phat Fiber [rip-off] box.

Oh! Sock update -- mom's socks are almost done. I am working on the cuff and happy with how it is turning out.....pictures to follow...maybe after Tour de Fleece!!!!

Spin-on!!!

Today's accomplishment - 3 hours

Phat Fiber Box

2011-06-30T13:08:00.001-07:00

Okay, if you have never heard of Phat Fiber Box, you, like me, live under a rock.

A friend told me I should really look into contributing to the Phat Fiber Box; it is a great way to get your name out and increase business.

So I looked into it.

Once a month a husband/wife team collect samples from "contributors", gather them together, make a video, collect email addresses--which they use to inform of the super secret time the boxes will go on sale.

The "contributors" need to send in a minimum of 20 samples (but if you send in 50 samples, you will get your own box, and, as state on their blog, "a spot in our popular and entertaining monthly video!").

I was game, though trying to figure out how to make 20 or 50 "samples" of my row counters had be perplexed. I contacted the Phat Fiber lady and found out that they had too many stitch marker contributors, maybe next month.

Okay, by now I was hooked so when I found out the super secret date and time the boxes were to be sold, I made sure I was online, credit card in hand and ready to go to spend my $36 to get a Phat Fiber box.

Somewhere between finding out about the Phat Fiber Box and receiving the box I got to thinking.

There were 3 different boxes. I do not know how many each different box they sold, but you need to send in 20 samples (50 if you want your own box). So, let's just, for the sake of simplicity and argument, they only sell 20 boxes.

20 times $36 is $720. Now if they sell 10 of each box (one only fiber, one yarn, and a combo box) that would be 30 times $36 for $1080! For what? Okay, the people who put these boxes together do advertise, they do take pictures, they do organize the boxes, but......? The only thing the "contributors" get is advertising for 20 samples, or a "free" box for 50 samples, and the people who came up with the idea get somewhere around $1000?!

The box arrived and for all it's fibery goodness and hype and I was disappointed. For $36 I would have rather taken a chance on full-sized items from fellow etsians. I got less than 5 oz of fiber, in tiny batches. Got a stitch markers, a diz (I think that is what it is), coupons, etc. I did get a WAY cool "spinning because knitting isn't weird enough" button!

Are any of the contributors likely to get a sale from me? I can't say the Phat Fiber Box has really hooked me to buy fiber from anyone. I feel it is a rip off for both the consumers and those who "contribute!"

The friend who told me about how wonderful Phat Fiber was, USED to be a contributor, but has since decided she the few number of sells she was getting from contriubting to Phat Fiber was not worth the work to contribute!

edited to add: I have since been told they sell more than 120-150 or more boxes a month--this past month was $36 per box, so I'll just leave you to do the math!

About those socks....part II

2011-06-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

The hunting trip, and the possibility to be able to have all that time to knit, drew me to my knitting bag (which was a mess), and the three works in progress (WIP). We have those socks, oh "those socks." I am very hopeful that the hunting trip will allow me to get them done and off the sticks! I have never had so much trouble with knitting projects!

The Sad Sagga of Mom’s Socks:
· Followed lace pattern as directed, didn't like the way the k2tog tbl turned out. Tried ssk and liked it, but continued to knit, despite my disappointment of the first part;
· Continued knitting to heel turn; forgot to slip first stitch so couldn’t pick up stitches for gusset;
· Frogged back to heel divide – picked up stitches wrong, had ridges on bottom of sock and couldn’t fix;
· Completely frogged socks and started over;
· Latest issue – needle popped off cable. Purchased double pointed needles – realized I hate them and had to purchase new cabled needles;
· A couple more pattern repeats of the lace and I will be adding the cuff and binding off!

Cousin’s Socks Pair 1 – original pattern cuff down. After picking up gusset and working on gusset decrease, learned during a trial-try-on that I couldn’t get leg of sock over heel. WHAT?! I had tried them on multiple times and now they don’t fit!? Frogged them and restarted and am doing the same pattern, but knitting them toe up. Cousin tried them on when we were in Las Vegas and loves them.

Cousin’s Socks Pair 2 -- A trip to the store to purchase needles for Mom’s Socks required me to purchase several skeins of yarn (all sock yarn was on sale, I couldn't resist!). The only issue, so far, with these is that I sat in the parking lot knitting and texting my cousin about the yarn. I had the car radio going and the battery of my car went dead. These too were tried on, they will be a heavier sock and she will love their warmth this winter!

hmmm, about those socks.....

2011-06-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last post, I was madly knitting two, I mean THREE pair of socks. Trying to get two of them done before the end of May.

What happened?

Well?

The boyfriend and I decided we needed a lawn. Bring in a backhoe with a blade. He decides we need gravel -- enter dump truck with a load of gravel and two loads of dirt. Add fertilzer, shovels, wheel barrows, grass seeds, LOTS of work (BF's 15 year old son was forced into slave labor)--and you get. A back yard full of lovely DIRT! and NO knitting!

He leaves for work (he is out of town three weeks at at time), I wrap up what I can in two days before I leave for Las Vegas and come home to a "hint of green" in the back yard! A HUGE thank you to KM who watched the 15 yr old boy and watered the dirt!

I brought the socks to knit while flying, I decided sleep was more important than knitting on the red-eye from Anchorage to Las Vegas. I did knit the small amount of time we were in our hotel room. And my cousin got to slip her toes into her socks....just the toes, nothing more because that is all there is of her socks right now!

Are the socks done now? Uh, well, uh...nope! Enter more yard work, our 30 year high school reunion (that my boyfriend proudly announced SIX MONTHS AGO that we were co-chairs for the planning "committee" of two--thanks to all who have helped), the arrival of my new Majacraft Rose spinning wheel.

Knitting? uh, yeah...right!

The reunion is this weekend. After that, I'll get to knit, right?

Well, maybe!

Apparently, "the caribou are running" and hunting season starts July 1, and we are going hunting. I don't have a hunting license -- I am suspecting I will be the camp-wench in charge of "womanly chores" like cooking and skinning, and all that lovely stuff while my great-white-hunters get the family meat for the table!

It is the trip of a life-time and we are hoping a way to make up for me not taking the kid with me to Vegas! The 15 year old boy will get to bow-hunt with his dad--while his "kind of sort of, but not really, step-mom" acts as the camp wench!

Knitting will come with me, maybe then, with no internet, no yard, no shopping, nothing else to do, maybe THEN I will get at least one of those lovely pairs of socks knit! It is "Tour de Fleece" and I had such plans, but, I think my Rose will have to stay home!

Sometimes I HATE knitting!

2011-05-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

I was able to get my cousin's socks to heel divide, pick up stitches and complete the gusset then tried them on and couldn't get them over my heel. What!? No matter how hard I tried, these socks that 30 rows earlier slipped over the heel wonderfully well, would not slip over my heel. I took them off, tried them again and again, thought an hour or so and then frogged them in frustration!!

May 26 is my last day of work for the summer, and we fly out June 4 for our family trip to Vegas. If I hit it hard between my last day of work and before we fly out, I can get my cousin's socks done. So, I figured I would go back to my mom's socks. I have gotten very far on them; not bad for a couple weeks (right?)!

And then???? The cable popped off the needle, snapped right then and there. Do you think this sock knitter would have more than one size 1 circular needles? Nope! Sigh! Late Saturday night, and no way to continue with these socks that night, so I pulled out the balls of yarn from my cousin's socks and started knitting them.

The worst part of knitting socks (for me, besides all the false starts) is the first 30 or so rows! Friday evening, got my cousin's socks restarted and decided to knit from the toe up, using a pattern that really isn't a pattern other than "increase until it hits your foot at _____".

Sunday was a working day for us in the yard, but I managed to sneak out to the craft store to pick up needles for my mom's socks. In, out, off to the grocery store, and home! Quick trip! So why did I leave at 10 am and not get home until after 2?

The craft store had the needles, and then, for reasons still not clear to me, I stepped over an aisle to the yarns and saw "All sock yarn, buy one, get one half off!"

Bad, very bad! Step away from the yarn, Rhonda, step away!

Nope, I text my cousin who knew I'd ran away from home for the morning. Our convo went something like:

me --Sock yrn on sale - i am in trouble

cousin replies -- COOL!

me -- no, not cool, need to step away from yarn do not need more

me -- what colors do you like?

cousin -- blue, green, browns, (her list went on and on.....)

me -- need to step away from yarn

me -- do you like striped socks?

her -- sure, think of all the money you will save stocking up now!

me -- I do NOT need more yarn

her -- but you won't have to buy for a while, think of all the socks you can knit....

note to self -- never ever text cousin when I need someone to tell me to save my money!

Ninety minutes and 12 skeins & three sets of needles ($90) later, I leave the store, continue texting my cousin, sit in the warm sun of my car, turn it on, crank the air, contemplating eating breakfast the the nearby restaurant and cast on yet another pair of socks (really, I might have to find a 12 step program for myself!).

I get further on the new socks, size 3 needles knit faster than size 1, than her socks at home. Continue texting, knitting, enjoying the day, air conditioning running, listening to the radio and then my car goes silent.

Not good! Instead of cranking my car on and getting the engine going, I had turned it to "on" and my battery was dead. GREAT! Now I have to call the boy friend and get him to come and help me!

Oh well, now i have three pairs of socks going, at least I cast on a color that was from her list so, by the grace of God, I will be able to hand my cousin two pairs of socks!!!!

Think of all the socks I can knit now! 24 skeins and counting......

It don't get much better than this

2011-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday was one of those "it don't get much better than this" days!

I love getting up early, before anyone else is awake. The sun was shining brightly on our back deck and I sat out there knitting and sipping coffee (wonderful Kona brought back from Hawaii by my mom).

The mornign flew and before I realized it, it was time to take a quick shower I drive to our monthly Knit2gether. Normally it is at a local coffee shop, but this month it was hosted by a member of our group.

Her place is off the beaten bath, and we knit in a traditional cozy old log cabin. Outside, no matter which direction you stand, you see beautiful snow-capped mountains! Yep, this is why I returned home to Alaska!

Good food, good friends, and knitting -- does it get any better than that! Knittinginatree wore her Dumpter Diving Diva Dress, as well as the rest of us had something we had knit ourselves on!

Warm spring weather, nice drive in "the country", good food, great friends, and knitting. Yep, it don't get much better than that! I drove home warm, happy, and enjoyed the dive, noticing the splendor of a spring day in South Central Alaska!

Friday the 13th

2011-05-13T19:12:00.001-07:00

I do not believe in Friday the 13th as being bad luck. Really I don't.

BUT, I am going to blame Friday the 13th on the fact that I have to frog my cousin's socks.

Turned the heel on them today, went to slip them on. I am sure I did a guage swatch. I know I did.

Can't get them over my heel.

Rippit, rippit, rippit.

Smooth Yarn Ahead!

2011-05-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Last night I passed where I had been before frogging these socks to the beginning and now have nice smooth, non-frogged yarn!

Heels turned, gusset picked up, and working on the gusset decrease.

I am torn between keep on cruising with my mom's socks until they are done, or to set them aside once I have finished the gusset decrease and get my cousin's socks that far, and then alternate between the two socks until they are done.

This Saturday is our monthly Knit2gether, and I'd like to have some mindless knitting.

Between the two socks, my cousin's socks are a little more mindless, so maybe I need to get her socks ready for mindless knitting Saturday!

It looks like I will meet my goal to have them both off the sticks and ready for feet by the end of May.

To Knit or To Garden???

2011-05-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

I almost made my goal of getting to dividing of heels of my mom's socks.

I had mom over for the weekend and Mother's Day she and I spent the day together shopping and enjoying each other's company.

I purchased some hand garden tools and instead of knitting last night when I got home, I worked on my new flower bed. Started pulling weeds Friday, and finished last night.

So, alas, not as much knitting time as I'd have liked! This morning, before I get ready for work, I managed to knit the last pattern repeat before I divide for the heels. I missed my daily goal of a row or two.

We are supposed to get rain most of the day, so I may end up knitting instead of finishing the flower bed with new top soil and planting my Day Lillies.

P.S. go on over to the FIX Ravelry group and check out this month's participating shops for a chance to win a box of fiber-goodness

Knit One, Chore One, Repeat

2011-05-08T07:17:00.001-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Yesterday was a "knit one row, do some house work, repeat" day. I would sit down and knit a row or two, then go do a chore. I actually got a fair amount done on both the sock and the housework!

I will finish this last pattern-repeat and will divide for the heel and before the end of today, I will have caught up before these socks got frogged!

My mom came over and spent the night last night and (why I made sure the house was presentable), bless her heart, she said I didn't have to rush the socks when I told her I wanted them done before the end of May!

I have been looking for ways to promote my business and had been looking at being a contributor to the Phat Fiber Box. Indies produce 20 or 50 samples (with 50 samples, you get your own box) to match the monthly theme, and then the boxes are sent to people who purchase them. It is wildly popular, the release of the sale is notified via email and the boxes sell out very fast.

Sadly, the lady running it stated she had her slot filled for stitch markers so I went in search of another venue.

I stumbled upon F.I.X. -- Fiber Indie eXperience Co-op. It is a group on Ravelry, (you will need to be a member of Ravlery, which is a great online knitting/crochetting/spinning/fiber community).

People purchase items from the month's Co-op members and each order gives them a entry into a drawing. This month there are three boxes, and each has a value between $100 and $105!

Pretty exciting! This month's boxes are GREAT!!! I am awaiting to see if they will allow me to join the co-op or not. If you are a member of Ravelry, go over and check out the group! I wonder if co-op members can be in the drawings too?!

Again, everyone have a GREAT MOTHER'S DAY!

Getting Back in the Groove

2011-05-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

I know that it takes me less than 14 hours to knit a pair of socks. I know this because I knit one sock on a flight from Minnesota to Alaska. So, why is it I have two pairs of socks on the sticks since November?

My poor mom has been waiting for her Christmas present, her first pair of socks knit by me. They are my first attempt to take a lace pattern and create my "own" sock pattern. A couple weeks ago, I was on the home stretch, about to pick up the gusset and finish the legs. But, I wasn't terribly happy with them. The pattern had a k2tog tbl after a yo, which left the left tilting stitches in a zig-zag. I wasn't happy with the zig zag and tried a ssk in place of the recommended stitch and was happy with the results, but not happy with the earlier rows.

I wrestled then; frogging and starting over? I kept going. It's been such a long time I have knit socks, so when I divided for the heel, I forgot to slip the first stitch of each row and when I went to attempt to pick up stitches I realized my mistake.

"To frog or limp along?" became my question. I frogged back to where I'd divided for the heel, picked up stitches and managed to leave ridges on both socks, no matter how many times I'd drop stitches, and pick them up, I couldn't get rid of the ridge, so I in frustraion, I frogged the socks all the way!

I am happy I frogged and started over. My poor mom states that, with all the frogging and reknitting, by the time she gets her socks, they will be "used"! But the lace pattern is looking great, and now I just have to start carrying my project bag everywhere and get those socks done.

The other pair of socks I have been working on are for my dear cousin, Tracie. She too is waiting her Christmas present!

I know that it "only" takes me about 7 hours per socks (thanks to knitting one sock on a flight from Minnesota to Alaska), so, why is it taking me half a year!?

So, my goal is set -- have them both done before the end of May. We are going as a family to Las Vegas in early June and I will be seeing my cousin -- so both socks MUST be done.

Now that I have posted that goal, I have to make it happen!!!!

Karma

2011-03-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

The February Lady Sweater

Knit for me by a friend from my home dyed and spun yarn.

Karma – I believe what goes around comes around.

So hard to remember that when I am dealing with a situation at work that has stressed me to the max. Just thinking of the situation can cause shooting pains behind my eye. I leave work every day with a pounding headache. I frequently find myself in tears over what is happening at work. Migraines are on the rise, and my friend Jose (in my margaritas) and I commiserate almost every evening beside the fire. I often wake up at 3 am and can’t fall back to sleep.

And all because of one women who lacks the self-esteem to treat others with respect.

But Karma will take care of it. I am sure of it.

You can’t be that mean, that nasty, and that rude and enjoy your life! As they say "People in glass houses……"

Karma - it will come back around, if it hasn't already.

When I was making the move from Minnesota to Alaska I had a huge stash of yarn to “re-home.” Most of it stuff I had spun. I couldn’t ship it all, and knew after a year in storage, it would be ruined (though, now I have a vacuum sealer-but sometimes you just have to let go!). So, I posted a “help, anyone want a large amount of home spun yarn?” on facebook and a friend offered to help me give the yarn a loving home.

In that huge bag of yarn was over a pound of green yarn for the February Lady sweater I had spun for, but with the divorce and move, I didn’t have time to knit, and hoped it would find a new home and become something other than yarn.

She asked me what I had planned for the green yarn and I shared with her the pattern and Ravelry (she’d never heard of Ravelry!). Never thought much more about that yarn until I received a package in the mail of! That yarn knit into The February Lady I had spun for (pictured above) I love that sweater, and wear it whenever I can, and love sharing the story behind it. The sweater pictured above was knit by her from my yarn.

She recently posted this - a sweater knit from the remaining yarn I spun. I never thought they could be knit into one project, let alone turn out so beautiful! I gave beautiful yarn to a wonderful friend, and she turned it into that beautiful coat of many colors!

Karma—what comes around goes around. I must distance myself from the ugliness at work and never forget the wonderful friends I have.

Good Things Come to People Who Surround Themselves with "Good People"

2011-02-19T08:58:00.001-08:00

Good things come when you surround yourself with "good people"!

While thinking about my move from Minnesota to Alaska, I joined a group of ladies that meet once a month to knit and socialize, have lunch, and enjoy each other's company. It is quite an eclectic group of ladies, with one thing in common, our love of knitting and all things fiber! The group is wonderful, full of very warm and caring people.

January I re-opened my etsy store, FiberJewels, and told the knitting group I would bring my knitting row counters, as well as any hand-spun yarn I would be willing to part with.

Sales were GREAT, just about wiped out my store's inventory!

One of these wonderful ladies purchased row counters and yarn. One her way home, she stopped by her LYS to get the skeins of yarn wound into balls. She showed the owner my row counters and the owner in interested in talking to me. Might even be able to work with store owner to teach spinning classes.

This same wonderful lady asked if I would make a row counter for a swap she is in with a "spring theme."

It is great to be back in the swing of things, difficult to get back into "that groove" but great, none the less. While making this particular row counter, the yellow and dark blue beads reminded me of the Alaska Flag. The light blue and yellow reminded me of the state flower, Forget-me-nots, leading me to create what I am now calling "The Alaskan Row Counter".

"The Alaskan Row Counter"

Light blue and yellow of the state's flower, the Forget-me-not. Dark blue and yellow for the flag, and an "Alaska Black Diamond" better known by the rest of the world as Hematite! And least I forget, it is made out of gold toned wire, with small gold beads to accent it all.

Yes, when one surrounds themselves with "good people" good things happen. I am so lucky to have my knitting group, even if we only meet once a month!

2011-01-25T19:43:00.001-08:00

It was only a matter of time!

Beading is one of those hobbies I have been doing prior to knitting and one of the only craft/hobby that I have continued with.

Beading is quicker than knitting, but it isn't as portable.

Way back when, there was no way I'd spend more than a buck or two on a single bead; this summer I spent $10 for a beautiful handmade lampwork focal bead.

A little research on lampworking lead me to know it wasn't a craft I could just jump into.

This weekend I took a lampworking class and I am hooked!

I will return next weekend to see my beads and make more.

It was only a matter of time.

I am in so much trouble!

WAKE UP AMERICA!

2011-01-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

My thoughts and prayers go to the victims and their friends and family of the shooting in Arizona. It is a tragic event, no doubt.

As I listened to the news while they try to sort it out, the one thing that hits me is that they are so busy pointing their fingers at who is at fault and it left me with the question: When did we become a nation not responsible for our own actions?

The shooter purchased the gun, bought the bullets, and pulled the trigger, END!

He, and no one else, is responsible for his actions! They have not found anyone who forced him to do what he did. He did it on his own. Yes, he is a troubled man, who seemed to have a lot of warning signs, but hind sight is always 20/20. There are many many more who have many of the same “warning signs” that won’t ever come close to doing what he did.

If, in a rant here on my blog, I state that someone should be hurt or killed and one of my friends carries that out for me – am I to be blamed?

WAKE UP PEOPLE! If blame is continued to be placed on everyone except the shooter, we will continue to lose more and more of our rights!

I hear talk of making it illegal to buy clips larger than 10 rounds. A lot of blaming for what people said on websites – will our freedom of speech be on the chopping block to because of this?

Under the guise of our “safety” we are losing our rights to be free.

We have been forced to accept either to have our picture taken of our bodies, that basically a nude picture, or you can be sexually assaulted by the TSA.

If you were like me and thinking “it keeps us all safe”, chew on this: What happens when terrorists start using body cavities to hide bombs?

Bit by bit, stone by stone, right by right we are becoming prisoners in our own country.

I bet our forefathers are turning in their graves at the sad state we are in!

Alaska - Where Dreams Come True!

2011-01-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am, in Wasilla, Alaska, almost settled in!

My brother and I have purchased a small Piper Tri-Pacer plane. I am hopeful this will help speed my dream to get my pilot's license faster. My goal is to be flying solo before the end of summer. Right now, I am waiting for it to warm up a bit, and for the sun to set a little later than 4 pm.

Shortly after moving here I was asked to create necklace/earring sets for a local lodge that is a hot tourist spot. I decided to take her up on it, but wanted to settle in first (and I had to have my beads shipped from Minnesota to Alaska) and then I would start my etsy store back up, and start making items for the lodge. I want to be able to use Made in Alaska labels and such for the lodge, that requires a business license before I can apply to use the labels/logos.

I have been busy knitting socks, and have two pairs going right now. They are Christmas presents; saddly for the Christmas 2010.

I have also been spinning. That is something that is a big time sucker for me. My wheel is at my mom's right now, thinking that if it were there, I'd be more inclined to knit.

Oh well, the best laid plans! I got an order of three different fibers in the mail today, it was so hard for me to drive home and not head to my mom's! Knit, girl, knit!

Knit on!

Has it been that long, REALLY?

2010-10-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

It has been over a year since my last post, and a lot has happened since then.

The biggest thing is that I am single and moved from Minnesota to Alaska.

I gave away a TON of my hand spun yarn, packed up my HitchHiker Spinning wheel, padded it with all the yarn I could, and then gave away the rest of my yarn!

Settling in slow but sure!

A Problem

2009-07-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

I love spinning yarn! It is my favorite past-time right now. It isn't as mobile as knitting socks, but it is something that, when I just need a break, I can drag out my little HitchHiker Spinning wheel, and pump away, turning out yards and yards of beautiful yarn while watching my evening television shows. With each bobbin I've gotten better at spinning a thin single ply. With each skein, I'm able to produce a more consistent thickness of yarn.

Victorian Garden

I'm currently spinning with lovely "grab-bag-wool" I dyed. It is beautiful shades of reds from pinks to russets and reminds me of Victorian roses. I don't know if I'll end up making it into art yarn by plying green seed beads onto it, or keep it as yarn. It would make a beautiful shawl with sparkling seed beads, maybe I could find some cute little olive green leaf beads! If you think you want the above Victorian Garden yarn, convo me via Etsy and it can be yours. I'd finish it to your liking, with or without beads!

Mother's Pink Mohair Shawl

My mother is here from Alaska and decided to try out her new KnitPicks Christmas present (Options Interchaneable Nickel Plated Circular Knitting Needle Set) by knitting. I let her go "shopping" in my stash closet and she chose a soft pink mohair blend that I plied soft pastel seed beads into it. She is knitting a simple triangle that we hope will be large enough to become a shawl. The yarn was spun out of mohair I received in a swap package that was carded with some wool (again from a grab bag of wool).

The flash washed out the color, but does show the seed beads.

So, what's "The Problem?" you ask. I'm enjoying spinning more than knitting right now. Spinning more and more yarn, without using it is causing my poor stash closet to burst at the seems. I've been pulling yarns out and have been listing them in my Etsy Shop so that someone else may enjoy knitting them as much as I've enjoyed spinning them.

I HATE pricing the items I sell. Set the price too low and people don't buy as they think "you get what you pay for" and see the items as junk, not worth the price of the listing. Too high and they don't go. I just want them to go to good homes, am looking to clean out my stash-closet, and want to recoup some of the costs of the products used!

So, if you're in the market for some home spun yarn, aren't too concerned about consistent weight, check out my shop. They aren't perfect, but they are all great for knitting projects that don't need a consistent gauge. Most will felt lovely (if all the felting I've found in the Victorian Garden wool I'm spinning into yarn tells me anything), those that I know contain super-wash state so.

Knit-on......or is that now Spin-on?

Check out the store

2009-06-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

Mom's only been here one week and it feels like she's been here much longer.

Not in a bad way, it's just that we've been so busy and have gotten a lot of things complete!

Her bedroom (aka: guest room) is almost set up. I love Craigslist! I wanted the room to have a "bed & breakfast" look. Older furniture, quilted comforter, cozy like a hug, a place someone who is visiting can go and be alone. We need to tweak the valance and curtains and then it will be done!

In addition, I've been adding items to my etsy store - check it out. Everything is 25% off or more. Sale ends June 30, so if you see something and like the price, get it before someone else does, or the price goes up.

FJ

Store Re-Opening

2009-06-21T06:16:00.001-07:00

June will be a busy month -- My mom is visiting me from Alaska; I need to get our guest bedroom (mom's room) set up; my craft room will also be moved and set up; AND I reopened my Etsy store along with a Grand-ReOpening sale of at least 25% discount on all items listed.

I am planning to add items daily, so check out the store!

FJ

Catching up

2009-06-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

Although I have ignored my Blogs, I have not ignored my fiber-lust! My stash grows and grows with all my own spun yarns!

I purchased a HitchHiker which has replaced my Heavenly Handspinning wheel. I love my little HitchHiker and would recommend it to anyone wanting a spinning wheel!

I have 15 "skeins" of yarn that have the twist set and I've counted the yardage.

Another 7 skeins are set, but I didn't count yardage; 6 are for the February Lady Sweater, and one is on the sticks becoming a pair of socks.

Eleven more "skeins" are awaiting one or both of having the twist set and yardage counted. That is 32 "skeins" of yarn. All of varying weights and lengths from under 100 to over 400 yards. My husband asked what I was doing with all the yarn; my reply was to add it to my stash!

I'm really not sure what to do with it all, I was just having so much fun learning to spin that I kept spinning and spinning! Maybe I should list some in my store as destash at cut rate prices just to clear out my closet!

I'll update the sock progress at another time, but right now, I'm sticking to my spinning, so I can show you my first project with my spun yarn (I am not going to count the pink and brown scarf as scraves don't count as "projects"!)

These socks are being knit from a bamboo/wool blend of roving I purchased and dyed before spinning. The colors didn't turn out quite like I wanted, but I think they will become fine socks to wear with jeans this fall, or even this summer if we keep having rather cool days like today!

happy spin/knitting

What knitting?

2009-01-28T03:23:00.000-08:00

I have not picked up my sticks since I returned from Alaska!

I have been spinning on my wheel a lot since I came home; have learned a lot from it and am ready to start shopping for a more expensive wheel. I might go about seeing if I can sell it and take that money and apply it to my new wheel -- I'll be plunged back into spindle spinning, that I enjoy that too -- it is just that it can be incredibly slow!

It continues to be to darn cold for much of anything! Between the three weeks in Alaska with lows in the -35's and high rarely getting above 0, and returning home to find my home town in it's own deep freeze, I'm tired of cold weather.

I have laryngitis and will see my doctor today as it just is not getting better! My students love it as I can only talk so much and then I have to shut-up! I'm in the middle of giving some "norm referenced" tests and there are instructions that are to be read; I've been having another person come in my class and read them for me!

I will see if the doctor will document my migraines and the disability they cause. If she will, then I'll move on with training to make Abby my Service Dog. I'm wiating to talk to my doctor before I order her any "Medical Alert Dog in Training" bandanas or the like.

It's been so cold, you'd think I'd be knitting! Guess I've been too busy researching Service Dogs, and working with Abby!

until next time,
fj

This might actually work

2009-01-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

What started out as a joke, may become a life saver to me.

On a flight to Alaska I had the good fortune to sit next to a gentleman with a Service Dog (SD). We discussed how he had trained his SD on his own because the waiting list for an SD was so long and the dogs were so expensive. He joked with me that if I had a disability I could train my own dog to be my SD and fly with her at my feet too!

Things that he mentioned peeked my interest and, when I returned home, I did some research on SD and found the information the man had given me was right on. To have an SD, one needs to have a disability, and then train the dog to do one thing to assist the person, no special trainers or certification required. The only disability I have is Dyslexia and there was nothing I could do to train a dog to help me with that.

I continued with my research on SD’s and stumbled across these three words: Migraine Alert Dog. Okay, I was diagnosed with Migraines 30+ years ago, they are a pain, but a disability!? How could Migraines be a disability?!

This lead me to do some research on Migraines which I had never done (if you knew me, you would be surprised I hadn’t researched Migraines before). They are part of who I am, part of my life, they are my “normal.”

Under the guild lines of a migraine raiting scale I saw over and over, my Migraines put me at the level to have a “moderate disability.” Okay, so now I have a disability; now what.?

How in the world does one train a dog to Alert?

More research – turns out some dogs just do it, but more than that, it is owner dependent, owners that are in tune with their dogs notice the slight behavior changes. Some dogs are more obvious, some are very subtle.

This morning was like any other morning, up around 5:30, eat breakfast, feed dogs, let them out, make my lunch, and get ready for work. As I turned to leave the bathroom, I got “that feeling.” The slight subtle feeling that is so easy to ignore, so easy to not even notice, the sensation that tells me I was getting close to a migraine and I’d better take something now before it advances into a full-blown, stay at home migraine. I often miss this signal until it is too late for OTC meds forcing me to take the big drugs!

Oddly, six hours before this, Abby (our 8 month old puppy) woke me. She was being a pest and very needy. She was licking me, licking my pillow, and just could not squeeze herself close enough to me (yes, we are those bad people who let their dogs sleep in bed with them). I thought she may need to go potty, but that wasn’t it. Decided she was just being a pest and we went back to sleep. Was she alerting me? Did she sense that I was coming down with a migraine? If so, this is not only amazing, but a life-saver.

If she can alert me to pay better attention to my body, I can hear my body tell me “you’d better do something to cut this off at the pass.” Two Extra-Strength-Excedrin some time for my body to process it and I was back to my normal self!

It will be interesting when I have my next Migraine to see if she does something odd again.

I may just have my alert dog.

Obedience class starts tonight!

Follow our journey on Abby's blog

On the Sticks

2008-12-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

I am "home" now, in the frozen city called Eagle River, Alaska. Though I've managed to come "home" every couple years or so, I rarely make it "home" for the holidays. I have my own "family" and to go "home" would mean that I'd leave one family, one home, for another. This is the first time in 11 years I've been "home" during this time of the year.

It's a bitter sweet time; I'm here to help my mom with her rehab from open heart surgery, as well as helping her with all that needs to be done when your spouse passes away. I've learned more about Social Security, Wills, Estates, etc. in the past week than I ever though was possible to learn in 2 short days while Mom and I got various things done, and I learned what I needed to know to help her.

There has been a lot of hurry up and wait, as busy as we have been, there has been time to knit.

Airplane Socks

I managed to get through security with my knitting needles, sat in the "middle row," with two people who could care less that I had pointy objects on the plane! I was able to just about complete on sock during the layover and flight. I somehow managed to purl while doing the kitchener stitch, so I'm trying to fix it (okay, so that sock isn't totally completed!)

Diann's Sock

I told Mom I'd knit a pair of socks my her SIL, my step-aunt. The dear sweet lady who dropped everything to come to Alaska to help out. She was willing to stay indefinitely! She wears the same shoe size, so it's pretty easy to knit her custom sized socks.

So, as I type this, I have managed to complete two socks, not a pair, but two socks, none the less (yeah, I know, the Air Plane socks really can't be counted as complete.....).

Liz's Socks

My niece wanted me to knit socks too, and as she doesn't have the same size feet as I do, as well as some issues with socks not fitting correctly, I'll need to knit her socks so that I can try them on her as I go. So, I started a pair of two-at-a-time-toe-up socks for her.

If I manage to meet my goals and get my niece and step-aunt's socks done, I will be ahead of schedule with my "year of socks." Upon completion of the three pairs in progress, that will bring my total to 11 pairs of socks since May. I also have a pair that I started at home that came with me in my suit case, just in case I end up with extra time - they've been put on hold while I knit socks for my family members.

Moosewood yarn, dyed in Anchorage Alaska

I picked up some sock yarn that is hand-dyed in Anchorage, Alaska. The colorway is called Moosewood.

Hope you will have a safe and happy New Year,

Decorating my Wheel

2008-12-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

Part of what I liked about the Otium is that it came unfinished so I could decorate it as I wanted.

I wish I could say I came up with this design on my own. I wanted to have all season's on the wheel and when I saw a similar design, I decided this was the one I wanted to put on my wheel.

The green/blue/brown roving is what is spun on my spool.

Taking the plunge

2008-12-12T05:44:00.001-08:00

Well, it happened! I did it! I took the plunge and got a wheel!

After a lot of research I became so confused at what was the "best" wheel for me; all I wanted was something to learn to spin on. I was not ready to drop $500+ on a wheel. When I found Heavenly Handspinning I really felt it was too good to be true. A wheel for $150? I found a group on Ravelry comprised of people who owned these wheels and they said they were good wheels, so I took the plunge!

Tuesday of this past week, the box arrived. I had a lot of outside chores to do, so I completed them before opening the box.

The wheel needed to be assembled, and then I started spinning. Well, not really, it's more accurate to say I attempted to spin on the wheel. In less than 30 minutes I was ready to toss the wheel out the window and was wondering about my decision to be an inexpensive wheel.

Many emails back and forth between myself, others who own Heavenly Handspinning wheels, as well as the proprietor of Heavenly Handspinning, a good night's rest, and I was spinning.

I've had the wheel for just under a week and I'm LOVING it!!!

Above is the first "skein" of yarn I spun and then did a Navajo Ply with it.

The second yarn I spun with the roving that came along with my wheel.
My third skein, plied and ready to go - about 100 yards of bulky weight

This is the last of the roving I've spun. Hand dyed by me. I just dyed some more roving that I am planning to spin and ply to this.

I am in LOVE with my wheel!!!

I am currently waiting for 1/2 pound of recently dyed roving drying before I can spin anymore!

A Year of Socks Continue....

2008-12-07T03:49:00.000-08:00

I completed the candy cane socks this week, so my December socks (pair #8) are completed.

Yesterday I attended my first Fiber Fair and Sale. It was not exactly what I was expecting, it was tiny, and just basically things members of the Duluth Fiber Guild had made.

I bought a pound of roving that is from "Quincy," a Romney Corriedale cross. So soft and yummy. I divided the pound 4 ounce balls, one ball being short a couple tenths of an ounce, so I started playing with that.

This is my third skein and I'm very happy with my progress!

2008-11-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll keep it short and to the point.....

Catching up:

Hubby's wool hunting socks (pair #6 )

River Rapids Socks (pair #7)

The "secret" knitting project. I knit a Prayer Shawl for my mom who is recovering from open heart surgery as well as dealing with the death of her husband. I can't be there right now, so I knit her a hug.

AND....

I couldn't put it off any longer. I have begun spinning! Like I have all this spare time, NOT!

This is the first of my spinning. A superwash merino wool.

Here it is plied, it's so nice and squishy, ready to be knit.

I just had to see how it would knit up, so I started knitting a 1x1 rib scarf (both sides look the same). Don't know if I'll keep going, or if I'll rip it out, find out how many yards I have, and look for something special to knit with this.

Yesterday I went and tried out a Babe Spinning Wheel. It is okay, just not the most attractive wheel. I've also thought of a HitchHiker, and just found Heavenly Handspinning wheels.

There is a fiber fair next weekend, so I'm hoping there will be used spinning wheels for sale or at least wheels I can try.

Too many decisions!

Baby, it's could outside

2008-11-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, short and to the point -- it is warmer in Alaska!

That is so not right!!!!

Quick Update.

2008-11-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

I have been phoning my mom several times a week; she sounds to be on the mend and is getting excellent care from her SIL (my "step-aunt").

Hubby took his new hand knit wool socks with him hunting; he tells me they are very warm (socks # 6).

It has been cold enough for me to wear the 100% merino wool socks I knit for myself -- they are warm and cozy and NOT scratchy at all!

The River Rapids Socks are almost finished -- I'm working on the last row before I bind off. These will be my 7th pair of socks since May, putting me ahead of schedule as these are will be my "November socks" with my goal of a year of socks (or one pair a month).

I've been knitting something for someone special -- this person does check in here once and a while, so I'll write more after he/she has received the item.

I had started my candy-cane socks a bit ago. The silk/wool blend is sooooo soft and smooth. No superwash, so I'll have to make sure they don't get into the laundry hamper and get felted in the washing machine. With my gift finished, I will be able to spend all my knitting time on these socks and will have them completed in plenty of time for wear during the month of December.

I will be flying home over the Holidays. I was able to get 7 additional days off. Not an easy feat for a teachers as, even though we do have more days 'off' than most other jobs, we don't get to choose those days. I was granted two days to take care of my mom, and 5 "funeral days".

The flight from here to Anchorage is over 6 hours, so I should be able to get some knitting done on the plane. I am thinking I'll knit some "Alaska socks" from yarn I will purchase while I am there. I am thinking I'll knit them with a snow-flake lace pattern (after I find that pattern!).

I'll post pictures of my River Rapids socks as soon as they are done, as well as Hubby's hunting socks and progress on my candy-cane socks. A picture and more details of my gift item will be posted after he/she has received it.

Knit on!
FJ

Difficult Weeks

2008-11-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

The past several weeks, have been very difficult for my family.

In the early morning hours of November 5, 2008, my step-dad lost his battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. His death happened only a few short hours after my mom had returned home from the hospital after having open heart surgery.

The ensuing days have been rather bumpy. The stress of trying to arrange a funeral so soon after a major surgery has proven to be just too much for my mother. She's doing well now, but all plans for a memorial have been put on hold until after she has had a chance to recover and heal.

Please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers that she is able to have an easy and complete recovery, and is able to have comfort during her grieving process. Although I lost a man who's been more of a father to me than my own father, please also keep his children in your thoughts and prayers too as they deal with the death of their dad.

Guilt Free Knitting, or KIP while waiting

2008-11-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

This morning, bright and early, I took my car in to have the snow tires put on. Hubby was stressing about how we'd get the car down there, and then pick it up. I told him no problem, I'd make it for early Saturday, sit in their waiting room and knit. So, that was what I was up to this morning. KIP in the waiting room of the tire store.

All that is left on Hubby's boot socks is the toe decrease. I want him to try them on one last time before I begin the decrease, so, until he comes home later today, they are as far as I can go on them. This is the same pattern I did the famous "Merlot socks" -- I chose to not do the contrasting yarn. I knit both of our pairs of socks out of 100% superwash merino wool which I dyed myself.

It took me only 30 or so minutes to get to where I wanted to stop on his socks, so I pulled out my River Rapids socks (which I almost didn't bring) and worked on them for the remainder of my time in the waiting room.

As I pulled out of the parking lot I realized how enjoyable that wait was. One hour of knitting, guilt free. I was able to sit and knit, without thinking "I really should be doing _______ . (Fill in the blank with any number of things I should be doing: laundry, scrubbing bathrooms, barn chores, vacuuming/mopping the floors, etc.)

And now, what am I doing? Typing on my blog when I should be working on my weekend chore list!

Guilt Free Knitting, or KIP

2008-11-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Halloween of Days Past

2008-10-29T05:54:00.001-07:00

For some reason, this Halloween I'm thinking of Halloween when I was a girl "a hundred years ago" in Alaska.

We wore our costumes at our "Halloween Party" at school. We came home, ate dinner, and out we went gathering candy, in the cold and snow. One year I wore a long dress and went out with my brothers. They are 6 and 4 years older than I. We were out "forever" and they were supposed to be the responsible ones. Supposed to be! As my mom reads my blog, she will learn that they weren't so responsible!

The snow was up to my butt that year. We traipsed all over our neighborhood. Houses were pretty far apart way back when and we put on several miles. On our way back home, the boys had me sit in a ditch as they tossed snowball as passing cars (sorry, mom, I just sat in the ditch, THEY were the ones tossing the snow balls; okay, I made some of the snow balls for them). It must have been a rather fresh and wet snow fall as the snow balls were easy to make, my dress became wet from sitting in the damp snow. By the time we made it home, my dress was frozen solid.

I know we went out trick-or-treating every year, but that was the one year I remember. All that could be seen of my costume was the skirt of my dress over my snow pants and winter boots!

As I type this entry, Halloween is now only two short days away. There's no snow on the ground, the grass is green, and temps in the 40's are forecasted for this Friday.

Snow

2008-10-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

I know others in our country have already gotten snow. Growing up in Alaska, I don't recall any Halloweens without snow, and a lot of it!

I guess I've become a sissy, Halloween is 6 short days away, and I don't want snow just yet! I remember trick-or-treating with snow over our boots; could never figure out why we put on costumes only to cover them up with winter coats, hats, mittens and the like!

The weather forecast Saturday was that it would turn cold with a chance of snow by Sunday. So, Hubby and I spent Saturday trying to finish all the chores that need to be done before winter hits and the snow flies. Heated water buckets were brought out, summer lawn furniture was put away for the year, and the last of the summer manure was hauled away to help a friend's garden flourish next year.

Snow started to fall this evening. It was pretty cold and wet doing evening barn chores.

It was nice to sit down and knit this evening. I feel like I've been working on the for ever. Considering the fact I haven't had much time to knit in the evenings, they are progressing at a nice clip. This evening I began working on the heel flap.

I was able to knit some on the River Rapid socks, over the past few weeks and am working on decreasing the gusset.

Hubby's socks will be my sixth pair of socks in six months and will keep me on track. I might go back to the River Rapid socks before I start the Candy Cane lace socks.

Would Anyone Like a Puppy? Free!

2008-10-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

For quite a while, Abby's been sleeping on our bed. She's been good, doesn't get up during the night and all's been well.

Until last night.

Not sure why, but she was up and running amok in our bedroom. Hubby shooed her back to bed at midnight, and around 1 am, she woke me. I reached over to grab my glasses on my bedside stand and they were gone.

WHAT!? GONE? Oh, no, don't tell me she chewed on them, PLEASE! These are the first glasses I ordered without asking about the price. I'm old enough to "need" bifocals, so I found the frames I wanted and ordered the various lens options right down to no-line-bifocals. I just about choked when I got the bill, but I liked them, and they'd last several years and I deserved them. After all, did I mention I'm now old enough to require bifocals?

Those were the glasses missing. My eye site is bad! I mean REALLY bad.

You know the E at the top of the chart? I can't see it.

Without my glasses or contact lenses, I am legally blind! My far sited vision is so bad that standing, I couldn't tell you if you're wearing flesh colored socks or are barefoot! I tell you, it is bad!

So, here I am, at 1 am, crawling (because if I was standing, I wouldn't be able to see them) around on the floor, searching for my glasses.

Yes, Little Miss Abby had chewed on them! Too deep to be buffed out. On a positive note, it was only one lens, so it should cost only 1/2 as much to have that lens replaced, right?!

If they've discontinued those frames I might be screwed! I will be ordering them askng for their price!

She went back into her crate for the night, which involved me moving the crate from another room into our room and tracking down a blanket for it. As well as tossing her in it, hearing her whine, and then hauling her to the crate upstairs, went back to bed, with a pillow over my head because she wasn't happy about being forced to sleep in her crate and wanted the world to know she wasn't happy about it!

I was so wide awake by the time I crawled back in bed for the 4th time before 2 am, that I was unable to fall back to sleep!

Does anyone want a puppy? She's cute, just loves to chew on things!

I'm off for another cup of coffee, and another, and another.

2008-10-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

This past week and weekend have been busy, just not a lot of knitting.

Over the weekend I drove out to Walker, Minnesota, to spend time with friend of mine. It was a "horse weekend" where we went shopping (I spent far too much money), had a late lunch, time got away from us so I spent the night. The following day we played with her horses before I headed home. I brought my knitting bag, but my projects only came out so I could show off what I was working on.

The drive there and back was beautiful. Most of the trees have lost their leaves, but the Tamaracks were bright yellow, and looked gorgeous against the other pine trees. With each drive to my friend's, the 2 + hours fly faster; 3 CD's and I'm there!

Last week we started putting Abby, the puppy, in a crate when we leave for work. She was having far too much fun in "her room" (my craft room), and seems much more at ease in her crate. She does not like going in it and we often have to play "catch me if you can" with her running all over the house with me in hot pursuit! Our older dog lays by the crate and I think it's easier on her instead of being locked in a room in the basement. MIL loves Abby and often comes over mid-day to let her out so she can go outside and go potty and run and play. Yesterday was the first day since we started crating Abby that MIL wasn't able to come over during the day to let her out. Abby put in just under 9 hours in her crate. She survived just fine, me, I had to rush home as soon as the students leave, so I guess it was harder on me than her!

This week was the return to not having to rake the toxic Red Maple leaves out of "the boys'" pen. It's been nice to come home and do other things besides 1 to 2 (or more) hours of raking! Monday Sox got groomed as well as his hooves trimmed; Wednesday was Willow's turn.

Last night ,while working with Willow I was reminded of why I like his so much. He is so laid back, and so patient. Because he didn't "argue" (pull his feet away from me) with me over trimming his feet, they were done lickity split!

Sox, on the other hand. OMG! He is three years old, going on four. Those are the years that horses start to make the change in their heads between child and adult. AKA -- it is their teen years! Now, mind you, Willow was not a dream either at that age, but he was in it and out of it rather quick, and has come out the other side a rather mellow old man (at the ripe old age of 4 going on 5).

Like human teens, where some go through their teens rather quickly and don't give their parents much problems; others have a hard time, fight tooth and nail, and seem to take their time. Willow was the one that gave me a couple issues, we had some rather, "No! I'm the leader of this herd and kicking humans is NEVER okay! You will respect me as the alpha horse!" discussions and he is great now. Sox? Well, not so much! He is just this little snot right now, everything we do is a discussion about who's the lead horse. He's really been causing poor Willow a time too. Sox will back up into Willow and start kicking! I teach at a school with students in treatment for emotional and/or behavioral issues. If Sox were a human teen, he'd probably attend my school!

I was reminded of this when I worked with Sox Monday and then with Willow last night! Night and day they are!

And knitting? I was actually able to spend some time after dinner last night knitting on hubby's wool hunting socks, otherwise, not much new knitting was done over the past weeks since my last post. Hopefully, with an extra couple hours back into my life, I'll be able to get those socks done before hubby goes off deer hunting.

2008-10-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

I finished knitting the "Merlot socks" and am happy with how they turned out; I will not wait patiently (because I don't want to rush it) for the weather to cool off enough to be able to wear them! The flash does funny things with the color of the yarn as one time they look rather purple, another time, more red! With the price heating oil, I may be wearing them inside if my hubby has his way with the temperatures in our house!

I have started my husband's socks, so my rapid river socks are on hold for a time being. Deer hunting season is in November, so I really need to get cracking on hubby's socks. Though I'm sure it wouldn't bother him if I didn't get them done, the point is I want him to have them for deer season and the rest of the winter, so, knit on, I will.

My next socks will be cranberry red wool/silk blend candy cane socks (because I want to wear them in December). I dyed the yarn last weekend and it turned out the color I had been shotting for with hubby's socks. A nice deep cranberry red.

That means the River Rapid socks knit with Lorna's Laces will be on hold for a time being.

I'm already tired of autumn! Wish the trees would just drop their leaves and get over with it. I never felt that way until I had horses in the back yard. We have a few Red Maple trees near the horse pen and the leaves (wilted, not fresh from the tree) are toxic to horses in large quatities. Every day, I rake their enclosure! The amount of time I spend raking takes out of other pleasures; spending time with my family, working with the horses, and KNITTING! It makes from some pretty long days, home from work, rake while dinner is in the oven, eat dinner, clean up, back outside to rake, rake, rake!

The Beauty of am Autumn Morning

2008-10-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

After posting earlier this morning, I went to get a cup of coffee and saw this out my kitchen window. I love how the sun is coming over the house and the trees are lit up so pretty with autumn colors! I ran outside in my jammies (and let me tell you, it's COLD outside!) to snap some pictures.

The front of the house has frost on the grass, the the sun shining through the trees and couldn't resist taking this picture. There must be something on my camera lense because that spot appears in the same spot on all pictures!

I promised hubby I'd mow when the frost and dew are out of the grass. I think a ride on my horse may be in order this morning!

My week in Review

2008-10-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Work Resumes on my Winter Socks

Yesterday I received my replacement needle ends from KnitPicks so knitting can resume on my 100% wool worsted weight boot socks. They should be finished before the weekends over; last night I finished decrease on the gusset and am now doing straight knitting until it is time to decrease for the toe. The worsted weight yarn knits so FAST compared to fingering weight sock yarn!

Once they are off the needles, I'll begin work on my husband's socks with the same yarn, this time dyed the correct color!

Out of the Dye Pot

The above are the yarns from the dye pot last week. The Russet will become my husband's winter boot socks. The yarn didn't turn out quite what I wanted, but it will work. It's all a learning process. I wanted more variegation, more areas with dark and light colors, but I had some issues with getting the dye to set and the water to run clear.

The black skein will become socks for me. That yarn turned out just as I wanted it! It will become socks for me to wear with black slacks for work. I love how the nubs didn't dye up and have little pops of color. I've yet to decide what pattern I'll use, don't know if I'll just do a simple knit pattern, or find a lace pattern I'd like to try.

River Rapids Sock Progress

Here is the progress I made with my River Rapids Socks. They are turning out great and I can't wait to get them done! I was sure I'd be frogging as I seem to do with every new pattern. I guess I'm getting better at reading and understanding the directions in patterns better. I've been following the chart and maybe that is my salvation as the chart just makes far more sense to me than having to read each line!

They will need to be put on the back burner while I finished both my husbands and my heavy winter socks. There is talk of both hubby and son going hunting already next weekend, so I really need to get clicking!

Sneak Peaks

(qued projects)

I came across a pattern on Ravelry that I will try. It is called Cherie Amour, is a lace sweater knit from chunky yarn. I love it and will have to order yarn for it. The question for me is: do I buy the yarn pre-dyed, or dye it myself!? Anyone who knows me knows what I'll do....and it involves a my canning pot and an afternoon when hubby and son are hunting, I have the house to myself and it doesn't matter that it will end up smelling like wet wool and boiled vinegar!

I also have two skeins of yarn I fell in love with other the summer that will become socks (I have set a goal to knit one pair a month -- I am currently right on target). One of those skeins might become a lace shawl, but time will tell. I have two bare sock blanks that also need to be dyed (I have offered them to sock swap as KnitPicks has them on backorder, so I'll have to see if they remain in my possession or get passed on to someone in need).

Last Christmas I got the book Arctic Lace which is about the history of Alaskan Native women knitting with Qiviut (muskox wool). Having grown up in Alaska, I found the book very interesting and am looking forward to trying the patterns. I have some skeins of alpaca "mohair" that I am hoping to be able to use for one of those patterns. I think I'll wait until I get a little more savvy at following lace patterns.

AND, then there are my two WIP. The "Buttery Yellow short sleeved mock turtle neck" that I ran into all sorts of issues with -- I have to decide what I want to do, frog the whole thing, or see if I can fix the issue with the bad skein of yarn. Then there is the weekend sweater that is 90% done. I believe it needs sleeves, maybe an inch or two around the bottom of the body, but it's almost done.

We are going into winter, so, between those projects on the sticks, and ones qued up, I should have plenty to do when I'm home alone as a "hunting widow" or the snow starts to fly!

Knit on,
FJ

Knit Picks is the bomb!

2008-09-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

I just received email from KnitPicks and they are sending me new needles, no questions asked!

I was going to drop by the LYS and pick up a replacement needle, but I think I will wait!

I dyed three skeins of yarn this weekend; maybe I'll see if they have a ball winder! Need to un-tangle them. While getting the dyeing supplies ready, "Abby the wonder puppy" managed to pull the bag of yarn off the dining room table. She proceded to "kill" the yarn for me and managed to mangle two of the skeins. This morning I was able to reskein the one I dyed (kettle dyed, wanted the difference in colors, so I just shoved it in the pot). The other poor skein of yarn will have to wait until I'm ready to dye it as I want to do something different with it.

Pictures to come of the dyed yarn and progress on my sock (it is turning out WONDERFUL!).

Happy Knitting,
FJ

Combining Patterns

2008-09-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have not yet heard from KnitPicks - I will phone them Tuesday if no email shows up over by the end of the day Monday in regards to the needle tip that broke Thursday.

I have begun the socks with Lorna's Laces Edgewater colorway yarn. I am going to attempt to combine patterns for the first time! I love the River Rapid Socks from SockBug, but I loving doing toe up socks (I can knit the socks as tall as I want them, either ending when the socks are tall enough, or when I'm running out of yarn). I am using the KnitPicks magic loop, toe up two at a time pattern, and attempting the lace pattern from the River Rapid Socks. I just started the lace pattern, so not much can be seen yet, but there is one of the socks. The flash makes the colors far brighter than they are.

I've spent the morning doing some of my bead work and have 6 or 7 items to list in my shop - I think the rest of my time in my shop will be catching up on work I brought home this weekend. It is overcast and raining so I'm not sure if we will be going up to the hunting shack working with Abby.

I learned one of our new teachers is a knitter and does "yarn road trips." Friday she brought in a bunch of her knitting for a little show and tell. She has grand-babies and I made me wish I had some too, but I'll be more than happy to wait for our son to finish high school and college!

Happy Knitting!

Bummer!

2008-09-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

One of my new Harmony Wood needle tips broke last night! I had put my knitting down to do something, came back and one of them was broken. Our son wasn't home, so I couldn't blame it on him; it was on the coffee table, so no one had sat on it while I was out of the room; the dog was not running around with it in her mouth, so she hadn't broken it in half.

I've contacted KnitPicks with the hopes they will replace the tip, but in the mean time, my Merlot socks are in limbo!!! A couple more rows and I'll be done with the gullet decrease and another 6 or 7 inches before I'll decrease for the toe! I am on the home stretch!

My KnitPicks order of bare yarn arrived yesterday. So I should be busy dyeing this weekend, but now the rush to get the Merlot socks done and hubby's sock yarn dyed isn't such a big rush now!

Guess I'll get to work on the Edgewater colorway yarn and get those socks started!

Rainy Day Tuesday

2008-09-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had to go to the post office to mail an order from my store. The good news is that it is close to the LYS; the bad news is that it is close to the LYS!

It was a rainy day, the type that made me wish I was home, curled up on the couch, either knitting or reading instead of making a living at work. I am also fighting a cold or allergies and am wore out, often coming home and going to be early each night after work, the thoughts of being tucked in my bed floated through my head quite frequently yesterday too.

My KnitPicks order is due any day, so I really should have stayed out of the LYS - I don't need any yarn, but since when did that ever stop me!?

As my hand knit sock collection grows (and the temps drop), I find myself wearing my hand knit socks over my store bought ones more frequently. I have a pair of brown pants with no hand knit socks I can wear with them. I'd also like more handknit socks to wear with jeans, something that would match them more than what I have. I found skeins of Lorna's Laces in the colorway titled "Blue Jeans," then I found some beautiful kettle dyed brown yarn. I was looking at over $40 in yarn (for TWO pairs of socks!). As I sat in the sock yarn area I saw the most gorgeous skeins of Lorna's Laces in a colorway titled "Edgewater" in the most beautiful blues, greens, and browns. Now I was looking at spending over $60!

I came to my senses, after all, I DO have a large order coming from KnitPicks any day and I can dye those yarns any color I want (or at least attempt to dye them colors I want -- remember the "red" yarn I dyed for hubby ended up Merlot). I put the other two colorways back, and purchased only the Edgewater colorway. I had them rolled into balls. The only problem is that to knit them so that the socks will match in some way means I'll have to pull one from the center and knit the other from the outside of the other ball of yarn!

I now have even more desire to finish the Merlot socks. I am on the home stretch and am now knitting the foot part having turned the heel, picked up (and started decreasing) the gusset last night. After knitting with the fingering weight yarn, this worsted weight knits up very fast! I am thinking I might havel knit my husband's socks toe up so that I can more or less knit until I run out of yarn and make them nice and tall for him.

I now have 5 different colorways of sock yarn waiting to become socks, not counting the 5 skiens coming from KnitPicks that I get to dye before knitting into socks, or what have you. Oh, and I have two sock blanks I could dye.

I think I need to stay out of the LYS for a while as I might have enough sock yarn to last me a year if I stick to my "one pair of socks a month" goal!

What a great puppy!!!!

2008-09-22T03:57:00.000-07:00

We were ditched by our son, so hubby and I went to the hunting shack alone, just he and I and Abby.

We didn't bring home dinner, but Abby did flush a bird three different times. The first one I was blessed with witnessing her almost touch the bird with her nose. She was going under a tree and as I watched her the ground explode as the bird flew up and away.

I think the best part of hunting is being in the woods. The colors of the trees are so beautiful this time of the year as they begin to burst into autumn colors!

I kept wondering how I could dye a sock blank or a skein of yarn to represent those exact colors! The blue of the sky so brilliant, the maples, an orange-yellow with bright reds looking almost like they were on fire.

It was a good day in the woods, despite no knitting!

Back Up and Running

2008-09-21T04:23:00.001-07:00

As though of you who follow this blog know, we got a puppy this summer. Getting a puppy is like having a baby. Your life changes and ours sure has!

The first change with my Etsy Store was that I just didn't have time to play with my beads!

In preparation for when I returned to work as a school teacher earlier this month we had to find a place to put her during the day. A place that wouldn't matter if she had accidents in, and there wasn't much she could get into to ruin or hurt herself.

The room that I have my "workshop" in became the perfect place. This is also our "all purpose room," we have lots of shelves for storage, a laundry tub, a small work bench for my husband, my little craft corner, and, the important thing, no carpeting!

My beading supplies were packed up, with the idea of moving to a different location. I couldn't decide where I wanted to set up my workshop, my poor little Etsy shop remained on hold, along with all my beading supplies in a closet upstairs.

Everything is unpacked now, but not in a new location! After tossing a bunch of old crafting supplies I was able to make room so that I could store my beads, tools, and other supplies, out of Abby's reach. I set up my workshop in the same spot so that I could spend time with Abby in "her room " so that she didn't always associate isolation with this room.

I won't be able to leave all my beading tools and supplies out, so no beading during those few minutes here and there. I will probably be beading on weekends when we really don't lock her up as much and I can leave the 'stuff' out; she can lay at my feet while I bead. Or on those evenings when I have time to set up my table, and then put it all away again!

I just listed seven new items, stitch markers and a row counter, that I'd made prior to packing up that I never got around to photographing and packaging up. Just found two sets of Letter Stitch markers I'll have to try to list later this week.

I have bare yarn coming to dye as that is my goal - to add hand dyed yarns to my shop as a regular item to stock.

It's now time to pack up for the day and get going - a family trip to our hunting shack is on the agenda (still waiting to find out if our son will be available, or if he "forgot" and made plans with friends instead of hanging out with his old parents!). We bought me a hunting license this year; just "in case" I want to hunt with my hubby like we did way back in the day, BC (before children). Don't tell hubby, but I'd rather be riding my horse, but, you know, bonding time and all that! Besides, a walk in the woods is good exercise!

Now if I could only figure out how to walk in the woods AND knit without tripping or running into tree branches!!

Merlot yarn for socks #5

2008-09-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the socks made from the yarn I dyed. They were supposed to be red but ended up with too much blue. I love them, a truly happy mistake; but my husband will have to wait for his socks now!!

Hello Wasilla, and other knitting news

2008-09-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

I often wondered if anyone ever checked in. Does anyone read my blogs?

Unless people left comments, I had no clue. Then one day, a friend told me about a site that will monitor hits on your blog.

Yes, I do have quite a lot of people checking in, only a few leave comments.

My greatest surprise was to have someone from my home state of Alaska check in. Thought it was my mom, but someone in Wasilla, Alaska, has been reading my blog! So, here I go, waving to you! HELLO, Wasilla! Hello to everyone else who stops by!

Back to Knitting

Since May of this year, I have completed 4 pairs of socks; pictured above, in order from L (first pair of socks) to R (most recent).

This week I learned the dreadful, yet wonderful, Kitchener Stitch (or 'grafting') on those lovely green "Girl's Best Friend" anklets. My first attempt created the oddest finish on the toe of that sock. After ripping it out, and re-knitting the rows that I dismantled in the process, I tried again. Nope, no go! I shoved it in my project bag and brought it to work with me with the plan to stop by the LYS on my way home.

At lunch, I figured I try just one more time. I did a search for videos demonstrating the stitch (just as I did at home). I wish I'd bookmarked the site I found as she made it so easy! EASY PEASY! WOW! Maybe it was because I had attempted, failed, and then gave myself think time. What ever it was, I'm did it!

I have my 5th pair on the needles. They were supposed to be a 100% wool, worsted weight socks for my husband. I hand dyed them myself, was told to add "a touch" of blue to tone down the fire-engine red. I must have added to many "touches" as I ended up with the most beautiful Merlot color! The flash gave them a very purple color so I'll have to wait until I can take them in natural light and post them at that time.

I now have to order more yarn -- but, do I just buy red, or attempt to dye again. The savings is not that much, so, maybe I'll just order him the red yarn and be done with it! Maybe I'll order more bare yarn just to play with!

In the mean time, I have an extra 220 yard skein of Merlot as my tiny feet only require 220 yards, not 330 his do. Anyone looking for Merlot Worsted weight 100% wool superwash yarn!? I have a lonely skein looking for a home...or maybe I'll knit two pairs for myself!

I did set a goal to knit one pair of socks each month from May on, so I am on target at this point in time. I'll finish my socks, and my husband's socks, that will take me to October. I have one on the sticks (one single sock), but several skeins waiting their turn to become socks!

ah, autumn!

2008-09-09T04:07:00.000-07:00

We have gone from warm, almost hot, summer, to a cool autumn. It's too early, BUT, that means I might get to wear my collection of new wool socks I knit soon!

School has started, which means I returned to my job as our school's Title One teacher.

Abby continues to take up an enormous amount of time, we have a neighbor girl coming 2 or 3 times a week after school to let Abby out and play with her. This should allow me time to drop by the stable on the way home from work so I can ride.

The location of my "craft room" is still up in the air. We pulled most of my craft items out of the corner of our storeroom/shop as this has become Abby's room when we are both at work. This weekend I sat in the room with her so that Monday the room wouldn't be a total shock to her system in addition to being locked up for 8+ hours. I couldn't handle the thought of that, so I came home at lunch time (my prep and lunch run back to back). Although she did potty in the room, she didn't destroy anything or try to dig herself out of the room through the door!

Once the location of my craft room/workshop is decided, I can set it up and then get back into making items for my etsy shop.

I am going to knit worsted weight wool socks for my husband; decided I'd dye them myself. He wanted red, but not fire-engine red. So, I added just a touch of blue. Not a good idea. The yarn turned out a beautiful shade of merlot, which will be great for MY socks, but not so much for him! So, to dye or just buy, that is the question for the red. I do love playing with the dyes and blank yarn, could list the extra 220 yards of yarn in my shop, but I'll just have to think about it!

It is time for me to get ready for work, take Abby outside for one last run before being locked away for the day (hmmm, wonder if I'll manage to stay at work all day or run home at lunch -- which is a 45 minute round trip errand!).

Happy Knitting!

It's in her breeding!

2008-08-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

Abby, our little Springer/Britney cross puppy, has discovered how to use her nose this past week.

It's amazing seeing the qualities of her breeds coming through, watching her do things no one has taught her! Watching her figure it all out, and learn how to do it better all on her own!

She flushed and pointed a bird this weekend on a walk in the woods. When the bird took off, Abby froze in the point position! It was amazing to watch her!

Another time, when playing fetch, her stick landed in the tall brush and she couldn't see it. She ran back and forth over the area where she'd heard it land, and then started to circle the area, zeroing in on it in the brush!

Last night, on a walk in the woods, I noticed a rabbit far ahead on the trail. When we got to the spot where the rabbit had been, Abby stopped dead in her tracks and began sniffing the ground. It was apparent she wasn't sure what the scent was, as her hair raised up giving her a razor back look. She was curious, but cautious!

She is a very good little girl.

Now if we could be as successful with potty training! It was easier "house breaking" my miniature horses than her!!! She knows she's supposed to potty outside, but hasn't figured out that she NOT supposed to do it inside! Oh well, at least she is no longer peeing on my carpets, but has decided the linoleum is safe!

A Better Mouse Trap (Row Counter)

2008-08-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

I often do searches online for row counters, seeing what's out there, what seems to sell, and seeing if I can I do anything to my row counters to make them better.

I came across the one pictured here. It looked to be great!

My own row counters, especially for larger needles, can be, well, in a word LONG! I've recently started adding a lobster claw on the end so the row counter can be made into a circle and shortened by half.

This abacus row counter could be it! With my own beading supplies I made my own to try out. After completing my Ravelympics socks were done, I was able to return to my work with my Girl's Bestfriend Anklets.

After completing the cuff, the pattern was to knit 50 rows. Perfect pattern to try out the abacus.

After each row, instead of slipping my needle into my the next number, I had to stop knitting to slide the ring over the next number.

When I hit row 11 I had to move the ring over all the numbers back to 1, I began to see the flaw with this row counter.

I decided I'd continue to use this row counter for all 50 rows; stopping every row to move the ring over the number, and stopping every 10 rows to slide it all the way back up to 1 to start the next ten. I have 9 more rows and then this row counter will not be used again! If the pattern calls for any more counting, I'll be using one of my Row Counter Chains!

My Much Needed Break

2008-08-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

Between moving my horse to a new boarding facility, getting a new puppy, the death of my friend and doctor, and helping my MIL learn how to use her new laptop as well as making her home "wire free", there just really was not time in my life for my etsy store, Fiber Jewels & More. At first I felt guilty; I'd spent so much time, energy, and money getting it up and running, providing a good product and the best customer service I could, but my heart wasn't in it.

I'd thought of closing up shop, but at the advice of a good friend, I simply took a break from my store. I'm glad I listened to her advice!

Yesterday, while our puppy played in the back yard, I hauled my beading supplies out of my workshop and to our porch. It was enjoyable to be beading in the heat of a warm summer day, listening to the birds chirp, watching our puppy play, and my miniature horses sunning themselves.

I was able to create several row counters, one of which will be a door prize in Secret of the Stole - III. One of the items I made for the shop was row counter (pictured left) with the cranberry wonder beads, I always love the row counters made with these beads! I was going to wait to list all the items but figured there was no time like the present!

I also listed some seed beads in little storage jars. I just LOVE the jars, the beads were ordered in the wrong size, so I listed them in the store also.

MIL comes over today for more computer lessons; I'm hoping I'll get some knitting & beading completed. I need to finish the ribbing on my Ravelympic socks and I can be done with those. My Girlfriend's Best Anklets need to be completed also. Would be nice to have those done before school starts!

What a kid!

2008-08-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday DS decided he'd tag along with me while I ran some errands, one of which was to my LYS to drop off an order from my shop as well as purchase new circs to replace the set Abby tried to eat.

When DS learned how much my new circs cost (because puppy grabbed them yet AGAIN and I lost it screaming at her I just spent $15 on those needles!), he decided he'd fix my old ones. I tried to explain his ideas wouldn't work, but you can't tell a 17 year old anything! He assured me he'd fix them and they'd be ready for me in the morning.

They were waiting for me this morning. I don't think they'll work, but heck, how many 17 year old boys care enough to try to fix his mom's needles? Even after being dragged to a shop he said was "for old ladies"

My week in review

2008-08-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

I've continued to take some time off from my shop and am hoping that as Abby the puppy settles into a routine, I'll be able to settle into my own routine that will allow me to spend more time making items for my etsy store.

I've continued to knit on my Ravelympics socks for th SockPut. I'm about 90% done an then, Abby struck! Last night, she was asleep on the floor, I left the room to get a drink and upon my return, she was running merrily around the room, with my knitting in her mouth, the sock blank being unraveled! UGH!

Although the knitting and yarn were no worse for the wear, the cable has too many teeth marks to allow me to knit! $&$@% dog!

I have an order to drop off at the LYS, I guess I'll have to see if I can pick up replacement circular needles!!!

Death Sucks!

2008-08-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I received the sad news that my physician passed away Friday, August 8.

One would not think the death of a person whom you see once or twice a year could hurt so much.

Doctor appointments with her were like catching up with a dear friend over coffee (though no coffee was served and I might have only had on a hospital gown), it still was more like catching up than an appointment with my doctor.

Her death has really pulled the rug out from under me. Her online obit's guest book, has 14 pages and counting of people who have written in sharing memories of her. Like rubber necking at an auto accident, I keep finding myself back at her obit page.

I keep hoping I'll wake up and it just be a horrible nightmare. There are so many things I had thought of doing while she was alive and never did. A fellow knitter, I often thought of making stitch markers for her and mailing them in with a note about how much I appreciated her as my doctor.

My last appointment with her was my annual exam, 2 months after my riding accident and consequent surgery to fix my separated shoulder. I was her first appointment of the day and was in the waiting room when she entered. I was wearing one of the scarfs I knit; she asked me if I knit it and when I said yes, showed me hers and said that she knit too. I didn't say much and now I wish I had. I was still unable to do much knitting and wasn't the most pleasant when that subject was brought up.

And now she's gone.

And once again, as I've done off and on, I sit here, thinking about my friend and doctor, and tears roll down my face.

When one has to find a new doctor because of retirement or move, it has a totally different feeling than having to replace one due to death. I was lucky to have her as a doctor & friend over the past 12 or 13 years. She will be missed by many.

I guess it is true, each day is a gift that we are given. 24 hours to spend as we choose. She wouldn't want any of us to wallow in the pain that I have.

Death sucks!

Progress

2008-08-09T14:54:00.001-07:00

Was able to make some progress on the socks today; don't know what the rest of the day will bring, nor tomorrow.

Sock Swap & Olympic Knitting

2008-08-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

I joined my first swap on the knitting/crocheting community of Ravelry.

I haven't always had good luck with swaps, but when I saw this one I thought it would be fun. We were to purchase a sock blank from KnitPicks, hand dye it, and send it along with some goodies to our swap partners. Someone else would send us our blank with goodies.

While awaiting the arrival of sock blanks, it was decided we'd do a KAL (knit along), and then a team was formed for the Raverly Olympics. I figured it would be fun, so I joined the KAL and an team for the "Sock Put."

I'm not sure what was harder, waiting for my package to arrive, or waiting until this morning to start!!!!

Earlier this week I received my swap package. Along with the beautiful sock blank of deep jewel tones, I received a small note book, with a matching pen and pencil case. I plan on recording my successes and unplanned results in the note book, and I just can't seem to have enough little cases for all my knitting gadgets.

This morning was the start of the Olympics so I finally got to play with my sock blank! My socks are turning out quite nice! I figured out "Judy's magic cast on" and have no seam at the toe!!!!

I'm just LOVING how they are turning out so far. They are creating a case of JOMR in me again!

I need to work on them and get the pair completed before the torch goes out for the Olympics. Ironic, the heat of the summer prevents me from wearing any of the socks I've been knitting this summer.

If I'm able to complete all the socks on the sticks I have at this time, I will have 5 beautiful pairs of hand knit socks!

I had hoped to complete the little "Girl's Best Friend Anklets" but the lace pattern did me in on

the first sock! I was able to complete both cuffs that will be turned over when worn. Once the cuff is completed, the sock is knit "inside out." These little puppies will sit on the sticks for a time until I get my pair of sock blank socks until they are completed. I have about 20 rows to complete before dividing for the heel.

In knitting these socks, I'm seeing possibilities of doing the toe up, and adding the cuff after completing the heel and the gusset.

Currently, I have three pairs of socks on the sticks, I need to get busy!

Knit on!

By George, I think I've got it!

2008-08-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

When learning how to knit winter of 2006, I read that both "poor knitters" and "good knitters" made mistakes. What sets them apart is that a "good knitter" knows how to fix their mistakes.

As I work on the second cuff of the Girl's Best Friend Anklets, that thought keeps jumping through my mind. I lost count of how many times I frogged the first cuff. The 7th row of the lace pattern just did me in.

I just completed the 8th row of the lace pattern on my second sock. I have made mistakes, yet, now that I've knitted the lace pattern and see how all those yo, ssk, k3,yo, TL, etc. all work together to create the lace pattern, when I realize I dropped a stitch or forgot a yo, I am able to pick it up, without messing up the lace pattern!

The cuff on this second sock will look very nice. I am tempted to rip out the first cuff, but heck, if someone is looking that close at my socks, I can kick them, right!?

Little Miss Abby

2008-07-31T05:43:00.001-07:00

The puppy has a name now (Abby) and her training is coming along nicely! She continues to be a very good girl, even though she's beginning to show a little independent streak!

She slept in her crate all night, with me on my bed (not on the floor) so I'm feeling pretty good today.

Shortly after breakfast we go outside and "walk" the trails of our property. I walk, she runs and romps and bounces off trees and other obstacles. Our walks really burn her excess energy off, and gives me several HOURS to ... knit, read, surf the net. I stay close to the room she is in so I can keep one eye on her, as she will get up, check where I am and drift back off to sleep.

I've managed to get the cuff done on my "Girl's Best Friend Anklets." The sock pattern that caused me a lot of frogging. I will get the other cuff done and then will finish the pair knitting two at a time.

She has forced me to clean up my knitting corner. It sure was nice to find things I thought I'd lost!!!

Nap time is almost over, there are some things I'd like to get done before she awakes (like take a shower), until next time!

Happy Knitting!

I'm a new mom!!!!!

2008-07-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, my husband's dog passed away from old age. I've tried unsuccessful for him to commit to a new dog, but it just hurt too much when we had to put Reba down.

We met this little girl on the 5th of July; her parents belong to neighbors of BIL. She started to melt DS's, and by Sunday we got her!

I'm off for the next 5 weeks, so we are doing a lot of intense puppy training!

She is the BEST little puppy I've ever had the chance to know!

This week is crate training without her hating the crate. After a pretty rough first night of me sleeping on the floor outside her crate door, she's beginning to realize it is not all bad! I had a little better sleep last night; am hopeful I'll get even more sleep tonight.

Only two accidents in the house (it helps when we're outside all the time!).

DH hates it when I sit home all day and "do nothing" (knitting, reading, not working my tail off doing house chores), so now I have an excuse. "Couldn't do anything, had to watch the puppy!"

Well, she's awake after her morning nap, so we need to go outside for a potty break, and a romp in the grass, and who knows what else our day entails! I might have to take a nap with her after lunch!

Double Points or Circular?

2008-07-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

Here are my first pair of socks that I knit using the Magic Loop (ML) method from a sock blank I dyed myself.

I'm not too sold on ML method, although it was nice to bind off and be done with both socks, at times, it felt like it was taking "forever" so when I was tired of them, I knit the cuff and bound off!

Those socks that caused me to knit late into the night with JOMR last weekend? Well, as you can see in the photo, I haven't gotten too far!

I'm SO glad I decided I'd knit one sock at a time as I knew I'd have to frog while I figured the pattern out. I've been this far before, and then frogged the entire thing when I noticed, way back when, I'd made an error in the lace pattern. I could have just added a stitch, but nope, I had to rip it all out and start over!

I'm tired of fighting the tangled mess the yarn and loops of the cable can become, so a trip to my LYS may be in order to get dpns for this project.

I was thinking I'd be done before I got my sock blank from my swap partner. At the rate I'm going, I'll be lucky to have them done before the snow melts next spring! We will Knit Along (KAL) with our sock blanks using the same pattern as the pink socks above I will need the circular needles this sock is on; I could use another circular set I have, but a trip to my LYS? hmmmm

I wanted to "just knit" last night, no counting stitches, YO's, ssk, TL1, etc., so I pulled out another project on the sticks. LOVE this yarn (Wisdom Yarns - San Diego), love the patterning, not too wild about the colors, BUT, another pair that I won't have to worry about DS taking and stretching to his size 11 feet!

No fighting with a tangle of yarn and cable from the circular needles, just simple knitting from needle to needle!

Oh, the joy of a simple knit stitch!!!

I got my package off for my swap partner and now awaiting my knit blank. As I said above, we will KAL a pair of socks with the two at at time toe up socks pattern, so I have to get the green socks off those needles. Yes, a trip to my LYS will be in order this week for some dpns.

I am coveting the purple sock blank I dyed and have listed in my store. If it doesn't sell soon, it just may find itself on my needles for my 6th pair of socks!

JOMR

2008-07-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

I have it, I admit it, I've been bitten by the JOMR bug.

I finished my pink/orange/brown/red sock blank socks last night and then wanted to do a couple of rows on the Girl's Best Friend Anklets before I went to bed.

After casting on decided I'd do Just One More Row and go to bed.

I read the first couple rows on the pattern and thought, I'll do JOMR and go to bed. This kept up until Midnight. Those who know me best, know I'm in bed early! No matter what time I go to bed, I am awake by 5 am; sometimes 4 am! At midnight, I decided that was it, even if I wasn't tired, I had to go to bed.

True to form, I awoke early, I was unsuccessful at falling back to sleep, I knew sleep wouldn't return so I got up, grabbed a cup of coffee, sat in my chair, and picked up my knitting (first mistake!).

JOMR, then I'll get up and I'll do? I'll do JOMR and then I figure out what I'll do for the day.

Dryer buzzer went off; JOMR and then I'll get up and tend to the clothes in the dryer (I did two more rows).

I did manage to put it down to type this blog entry. I have so much to do, have lots of items I need to post in my store. That will be a big undertaking as first I have to take pictures of my items, my camera has no more memory, so I have to delete lots of pictures, and then I have to...

... okay, I'll do JOMR and then get going, I promise!

Rain

2008-07-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

Funny how having things to do inside that you enjoy can make rainy days enjoyable!

We had a family reunion lunch to attend, and then were going to get some things done outside when we got home.

It's raining now - DH is doing some inside chores and me? Well I'm knitting!

I have just the cuff left of my socks and then I'll post them. I am in a sock blank swap on Ravelry and we will have a KAL (knit along) with the blanks we got from our swap partner. The one thing I don't like about knitting two socks at one time is that when I do a portion I'm unsure of and end up having to rip out, I've got to do it with two socks. For the KAL we will be doing the Two at Once, Toe up, Magic Loop Socks -- Hopefully I won't have to frog as much as I did with this first pair!

In the mean time, I think I'll start Girl's Best Friend Anklets, I'm going to do them one at a time. The pattern says they are a quick knit, so we'll see. They will be my first pair with "lace" this could be a long process!!!!

Now that I've started knitting socks, I've started acquiring different sock yarns and eye-balling different patterns. I am addictied to sock knitting.......

until next time,
Happy Knitting

"Clear Sailing"

2008-07-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

I've reached the part of the pattern where I'm told it is all "clear sailing" until I get to the cuff!

Heel turned, gusset picked up and decreased, it's just leg from here on out! The socks continue to remain the pink I wanted, despite the orange cast of the sock blank! I'm thinking these might be great little socks for wearing under my boots during the winter, so I'm going to knit them as tall as the blank will allow me to go (unless it appears they are going to be thigh-high!).

This week I received the project bag from ZigZagStitches and it is wonderful! I have ordered a bunch of other storage items in the same cute cat pattern!

Her Boxy Bag Pouches are GREAT! My sock blank fits nicely in the bag, I zip the bag almost shut and am able to pull from the blank while knitting. She uses a nylon zipper that has not snagged my yarn, the zipper pull is finished off with a cute little wooden bead!

My next sock will be from two balls/skeins of yarn it will be interesting to learn how the boxy bag handles skeins/balls!

yeah, some days are like that!

2008-07-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

There are times when I really wonder why it is I knit!

Maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist!

Maybe I shouldn't look for errors!

Maybe I should take up a different hobby!

*sigh*

Things were progressing nicely on the toe up socks and I was ready to turn the heels. In counting and placing stitch markers I found an error. If I wasn't such a perfectionist, I'd have just figured out how to fix the error through increase or decrease, but no, I had to do some major frogging, first on only one sock, then on both!

Oh well, these socks will be perfect! Well, until I find another error!!! I guess when I'm tired and I want to do JOMR (just one more row), I should put the knitting down and go to bed because JOMR can mean several hours for me!

Until next time, knit happy!

Sock Blank Progress

2008-07-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

My little socks continue to progress. Need to get on with my day (aka -- put the knitting down), so thought I'd post pictures before I did so.

Okay, no more JOMR, gotta get going with my day!

When Good Pattens go Wrong -- 2

2008-07-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I cannot continue on with my buttery yellow sweater. Too many problems continue to plaque this project!

I have contacted Cascade to see what they will do about the latest issue.

I am hoping they will be willing to do more than the last time I contacted them in regards to the pattern I found had typos and missing information. They responsided more or less with -- "Sorry, not our problem! Go to your LYS."

My New Love

2008-07-05T04:26:00.001-07:00

The blank has a very definite orange cast

to it, the socks are coming out very pink!

Also loving knitting two matching socks at one time!

I am loving this knitting off a sock blank! It takes the JOMR (just one more row) to a new level, especially with this "pink" as I have no clue what color the individual yarns will be as I unravel my sock blank, don't know if I'll ever find any yarn that is orange as it appears on the blank or not!

Went with hubby to the hunting shack and brought my blank with me, a big improvement over a ball rolling around in my bag!

Sock Blanks

2008-07-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm in so much trouble! I dabbled in spinning, yeah, it's nice, but not for me. Hand dyeing was my next interest. uh-oh! I'm in BIG trouble now!

While waiting for my sock blanks to arrive, I researched different methods of dying. I learned about using food dyes and had a bunch of Wilton dyes from my days of cake decorating. I learned the Wilton dyes aren't always "pure pigments." A "pure pigment" dye (or paint) means that all little tiny particles of color are all the same. So, in a "pure pigment" pink every single bit of dye/paint is pink. In a dye that isn't pure, it is a mixture of different colors, so the pink, not being pure, has different little bits of color and when dying with non-pure colors the results won't be consistent. Pink was one of the colors that I read time and time again as not being a pure-pigment. I also read that if you just accepted that, using these non-pure pigments could be an adventure. I wanted to do pink and brown, didn't have an extra pot to give up to dying, so I went for it!

Okay, I was ready for an adventure, and when I started using the pink and was getting oranges and reds and pinks, I just went along on the ride to see what journey's end would yield.

My sock blank - dyed, set, rinsed and dried.

Both sides - I love that the two different sides have different tones of "reds" the back side is lighter and more "pink" then the top side. The brown tended to stay more even on both side.

The very tip of one of the socks on my sticks.

I cannot wait to see how this will progress. I have a while before I hit the brown. I did "splash" brown all over the blank after adding the brown stripes.

I must go, I've got to knit "one more row" and then get some things done for our 4th of July! A quiet one here, DS decided to spend it with friends, DH and I decided to have a quiet day at home!

When good Patterns go Wrong!

2008-07-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

At what point should one just give up? The beautiful buttery yellow sweater continues to drive me nuts! First it was errors on the pattern that I battled and a rude email from Cascade when I asked for errata on the pattern. Now?

Well, the skein I'm working on now gets thin every once and a while. At first I thought I was pulling the yarn so tight I was "removing" the elasticity. Nope, a flaw with the skein. So, now what?

It's the back, do I just hope and pray that I won't have any more issues with the yarn and pattern? Or do I get the sock pattern for this yarn and make 4 pairs of socks? Or a ton of infant caps? Or put it in the deep dark depths of my closet?

I have another inch or so before I bind the back off, and begin work on the front above the arm pits; then the neck and arms.

I am beginning to resent every stitch I make as it could be spent on something else. I had such high hopes for this cute little sweater!

If I put it aside, either "for-ever" or until I'm no longer upset with it, I could spend my knitting time on socks. I ordered sock blanks and am going to give dying it a try; then I HAVE to knit socks out of it!

So frustrating!

Think I'll go knit on my sock until I go to bed.

Safe & Secure Lanyards in my Etsy Store

2008-07-01T06:36:00.001-07:00

Introducing:

"Safe & Secure Lanyards"

"Safe & Secure Eye Glass Leashes" too!

I finally made two lanyards that I didn't give away or sell before I could take pictures of them and list them in my store.

These lanyards are the best (not that I'm biased)! They've been in the works for a LONG time. I don't remember where I got my first beaded lanyard, don't recall if I bought it, or made it, but I do know it didn't meet my needs! Several beaded lanyards later I have come up with a design I'm proud to put my name on!

These lanyards are SAFE because I have placed a strong magnetic clasp in it. The lanyard will "break apart" if you get it stuck on something, or it falls into the shredder (as did happen with our secretary!). Or, as can happen, if a student (or coworker) gets angry and tries to strangle you, you are safe! (I work with "at-risk" students, no one's be strangled yet, but you never know with these unstable children!) The magnet shouldn't release with minor snags, so it won't come off as you lean across the desk to reach for something.

The SECURE part comes into play with the beading wire, which is the strongest I could find and will withstand over 40 pounds! Think of the keys you can hang around your neck! Another secure feature is that I have used two crimps on all joins, then covered them with crimp covers!

Other UNIQUE features:

The lanyards are a bit longer then other lanyards I've seen -- to make it easier to lock and unlock doors without having to hunch over.
The ends are all looped so that should a clasp break, it can easily be replaced without having to restring (and yes, I'll do that should it happen, just send it back and I will fix it - your only cost will be shipping to me).

EYE GLASS LEASHES:

The same SAFE & SECURE features, but the "normal" length of other eyeglass leashes I've found. ANY of the Safe & Secure Lanyards can be changed to Eye Glass Leashes at no additional cost to my customers!

GO CHECK THEM OUT -- TELL YOUR FRIEND ABOUT THIS GREAT PRODUCT!

I LOVE bartering!!!!

2008-06-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

I had my first experience bartering with a fellow etsian (esty store owner) the middle of June.

So, when I saw the little sock project bag above that I just HAD to have, I decided to ask if the owner would be interested in trading for something in my shop! She said yes! I'm so excited and can hardly wait for my new sock project bag to arrive!

In college I had cats and I loved them dearly. They both lived to be 17 years old. I miss them, I don' t miss the litter box. This little bag will allow me to have my kitties without the weekly litter box changing (but I don't mind daily stall cleaning!? hmmm).

I'm in a swap for hand dyed sock blanks, so this little bag will be the cutest little thing to stor emy socks in progress!

Anyway, stay tuned for a product review on this little bag!

"The Baby'

2008-06-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

While outside taking pictures of my new lanyards for my store, I was being watched by "The Baby " (aka: Sox). I couldn't resist taking a picture or two to share with you all here, after all, maybe one day, I'll find someone to spin his & Willow's undercoats into yarn for me and then knit it up into something "way cool".

To get a better idea of how small he really is (though the above picture makes him look like his head is super huge!) I backed up and took a picture of him behind the fence. The top yellow string is just under 36 inches off the ground!

Okay, time to get back to listing things in my store!

Pattern from hell

2008-06-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I will finish this bleeping "Buttery Yellow Summer Sweater" and get it off my needles ASAP!!!

I hate the pattern. Okay, I don't hate the pattern, I hate that there are so many errors on the pattern that it's caused me to do more frogging than knitting! I contacted Cascade Yarns, which is where I got the pattern, asking for Errata and they rudely told me that designer was no longer associated with them and to go to my LYS for help!? Hu? Then remove the pattern from your web site because it is bad news! I knit a section, realize it is incorrect, frog it, when I can't figure out what the error is I have to make a trip to my LYS (which is not convenient for me unless I'm at work), and knit on. I've been working on this since prior to my accident, so that would be 7 months. I try to give myself slack as there was a month or more that I couldn't knit without extreme pain in my reconstructed shoulder. Okay, I'll give myself that. BUT! Ugh! That doesn't negate all the errors on the pattern, and all the frogging it has caused me to do!

I have started working on the arm holes and am on the back, going from knitting in the round to RS/WS knitting. It no longer looks like a tube top or miniskirt! Soon, soon it will be off my needles - it is the first garment I've knit that will require piecing, oh joy!

Yesterday was far too hot for me. I took a quick trip to the barn to ride, but it was so hot there, I brought my horse in, fed her, hosed her off with cold water, put sunblock on her nose (she has gotten the worse sunburn I've ever seen!) put her back and drove home.

Before and after the barn trip, I spent most of my time knitting with a new sock yarn (I should have been knitting on the above sweater). These are my 2nd pair of socks (I'm not counting the sock I ripped out that I mentioned in my previous post). I'm liking the yarn's self-striping pattern, but I'm not too crazy about the colors. Why can the colors look so lovely when in a skein, but totally different when knit up?

I also dropped more money than I care to admit ordering from KnitPicks; after all, free shipping for orders over $50 orders (when their shipping is so cheap to begin with! LOL).

I want to give dying a try and they have these cool sock blanks that you dye and knit two socks at one time (check out "Finally finished" under "Tina's Blog" under My Blog List). So I had to also order the correct needles, in two different sizes as well as two different materials so I can decide which one is my favorite, Nickel Plated,or Harmony Wood. Then there was a sock pattern I fell in love with and had to have the "correct" yarn for them and - the order kept growing!

There is a pair of socks in Cat's book I want to work on also. They are called "Veil of Leaves" and can be found on page 34 of her book. I have several "sock yarns" in my stash, but all are self-striping and wouldn't do the pattern justice, so I have to get to my LYS to see what solid like color I can find, or at least one that isn't self-patterning or self-striping!

Supposed to be cool and raining today so maybe I should go play with my horse before it rains, then come home and get the rest of my chores done as well as getting some errands done. I'm sure there's got to be an errand I can run near my LYS (which is out of my way unless I'm at work), so I can get that yarn for those "Veil of Leaves" socks!

Knit on!

Perfectionism -- Good or Bad?

2008-06-26T03:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it, I'm a perfectionist! At times it is very bad. For instnace: I'd been knitting happily on my second pair of socks when, a short time ago, I noticed a place where I'd added a stitch. Ever since I noticed it, it just bugged me! I couldn't move on. Should I decrease to have the correct number of stitches? Should I rip out a good 4 inches of knitting, fix the mistake and reknit all that I ripped out? I even thought of dropping the stitch and working the extra yarn around each row.

I was ending a very busy day last night with a little knitting. I really need to get mye short-sleeve sweater (substitute SUMMER sweater) done, and the sock was screaming at me to fix it. So, I decided to ripped it out, all the way to about 2 rows below the cuff! I was then evenly spreading out the stitches on the needles when I noticed I was short one stitch. Hu?! After a lot of counting and recounting and checking to make sure I hadn't dropped a stitch it dawned on me: a while back, I noticed I was short a stitch so I increased that row by one! GRRRR! In frustration, I figured I'd ripped out 4 inches or more already, I might as well rip out the remainder of the ______ sock! I couldn't even knit anymore with that yarn.....I had to go get another skein and start a new pair of socks (my poor summer sweater had to wait!).

So, that is a case in point where being a perfectionist is not good.

It IS good that I tend to be that way with my stitch markers and row counters. It is evident in recent feed back, and comments made on my customer's blogs! I may not have a huge business and I will never able to live on what I earn there, but I can rest assured that I do good work and stand behind my product!

Perfectionism -- Good or Bad? I guess it is both!

Please check out what is being said by my customers on their blogs under "Customer Feedback"!

Have a good one, and happy knitting!

p.s. -- another case in point -- I've edited this post more times then I can count...I think I need go have breakfast!

My Little Fiber Jewels

2008-06-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

My little etsy shop, Fiber Jewels & More, is doing pretty well. Nothing I can quit work and retire on, but enough to keep me in crafting supplies. I've been told there is a 12 step program for craft-aholics, but the first step is admitting there's a problem, and I just ain't gonna do that just yet!

I'd like to get my lanyards listed in my store, but they are selling faster locally, word of mouth, then I can make and list in my store! They are pretty heavy duty, with 40 pound test weight beading wire, strong magnets that will release if the lanyard gets caught on something (like the paper shredder, or if a student decides to choke the teacher), and pretty. I make them fairly long so that one doesn't have to lean down to unlock doors. And, they are selling like hotcakes! I have also been selling the same version in a eye-glass necklace! I have two weeks off, so I'm hoping to get some of the lanyards made and listed in my shop during that time.

This week I did my first etsy barter trade. A gal convo'ed me in regards to my row counters. She loved them, wanted a different size, would also like matching stitch markers, but her price point was about $11. I checked out her store, saw the cutest items, convo'ed her back stating I'd love the Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate bowl and could we work out a trade? She's gotten her row counters, stitch markers, etc., and my little bowl should arrive any day. Check out LittleBirdProductions, she's got the cutest little hats too!

I have no idea what I'm going to use the bowl for, but I'm sure I'll find a use for it, maybe to store chocolate in at work!

I did an Internet search on "Fiberjewels" and was happy to find a wonderful review of my row counters on a blog of a customer. Check it out!

I've met such wonderful people through my etsy store, and earned some spending cash in the process...if I could only spend it on other things besides more and more beads!

Good tools ARE worth the extra money

2008-06-15T05:30:00.001-07:00

Every other week or so Micheal's has their ad with their 40% off coupon. I hate them! When I need something "big" it's not the sale week, the item I want is on sale for 10% off, or they are out of stock of what I want! When the coupons are good, I can't find anything I need and hate using them for a $2 item!

This week, after browsing the beading aisles, I ended up looking at beading tools. I needed a second set of pliers so decided that, with my 50% off coupon, I'd get the best quality they had, after all, I'd be saving $10 (let's not mention I'd still be spending more then I'd ever spent on any of my other beading tools)!

This morning I was making items for my etsy store, and while doing my wire wraps with my new pliers...OMG! What a difference they are! I love them! Normally, I end up breaking beads and have to make a new bead. These new pliers are a God Send! My wraps were tight before, but now they are so tight they could hold water back!

So many projects, so little time

2008-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today's post really has little to do with knitting, well, maybe.

At home, I'm know by my husband for being unorganized (keep in mind, this is a man who believes in a place for everything and everything in its place, he makes to-do lists and gets the items on his lists completed). Me, on the other hand, make to-do lists, and promptly loose them. At work everyone thinks I'm ultra organized, but it more if I don't "do it" now, it doesn't get done.

When my husband asks me to do something I get hives....let's just add yet one more thing to my list that I won't get done!

Yesterday, while avoiding work on the computer I found Microsoft Outlook Tasks manager. OMG! I can type up task lists and can't loose them (unless I loose my computer). Then it dawned on me that we have Outlook for our email at work and low and behold, I can write task lists there too....AND send myself reminders!

I have gotten so much done in the past 24 hours, I can't believe it. A stack of pants my husband has wanted me to make into shorts (since LAST summer), are now shorts. I have several pairs of pants that, either my leg gs suddenly grew 2 inches, or they shrunk and I've been wearing them as high-waters. One pair is now a cute pair of capris. Another, not so much--I didn't realize they had a slight flare and make silly looking capris -- they will become walking shorts, next week.

Last night, as I did some knitting, I actually did it guilt free....I've been adding tasks to my outlook and setting a date to get them done. It is freeing to see the complete list with several items crossed off! Now to figure out how often I want to do those chores that I am never caught up on, like my scrapbook (you know, if you don't take pictures, you remain caught up!), sewing/mending (I hate mending).

My list for today is done, so I'm off to play! Or knit!

Buttery Yellow Sweater - or "my problem project"

2008-06-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

My "buttery yellow ribbed mock t-neck sweater" has become my problem project!

Took it to the LYS this Monday and got help trying to decipher the pattern. The designer neglected to say important things like breaking the yarn off, or starting a new row, or what to do with the front while I was working on the back (it is knit on circular needles)! I can be a very literal person, so this pattern has just got me!

I unknit and fixed the problem, broke off my yarn, started on the back when I noticed that the sweater just didn't seem long enough. Double checked meassurements and they are what the pattern said they should be. So, off to the mirror to try on the yellow tube that may, one day, grow into a completed sweater. Unless I planned to wear this as a crop top, it is too short!

This sweater has to get completed soon; but I'm beginning to wonder if it's not meant to be!

I'll be so glad when it's done!

Frog it, forget it, finish it?!

2008-06-03T03:54:00.001-07:00

I've just spent an untold number of hours on a short sleeve mock T-neck sweater in a soft buttery-yellow color of fixation yarn. Now that I'm getting into the nuts and bolts of the pattern (shaping for neck, arms, etc.), I'm finding some major errors. I'm not happy!

I'm now 'unknitting' the last row because, if I follow their directions for dividing for the arms, I'll start the back in the middle of one of the arm pits! The pattern tells you to start on the RS -- but to continue, I will have to be on the wrong side?! OMG! The more I look at the pattern the more frustrated I become!

Am I the only one who will knit 'forever' and get to a point where I want to rip it all out and make something else!?

I fell in love with the pattern, and even more so when I found the buttery-yellow fixation yarn. But now?!

I guess I'll have to make a trip to my LYS and see if I can get some help there!? Or, frog it!

spinning round and round

2008-06-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here are my two new drop spindles. My niece is working on the smaller one and left me the larger one. I'm looking forward to getting it done and then trying to set the wrap or twist, or what ever it's called.

I think she may have already lost interest in it, though, I do think she's doing pretty well for a first timer.

On the 4th day, we relaxed

2008-05-31T05:16:00.001-07:00

Thursday night, my neice and I attempted spinning with the drop spindle. We got everything from as thin as thread to as thick as a pencil! Not to sure if I'll continue with this or not as, frankly, I'd rather be riding or knitting!

Friday was spent just hanging out; all three of us were exhausted! Later in the afternoon, we drove out to where I board my riding horse and took my neice riding. I think she enjoyed it; we'll see how stiff she is today and if she feels that riding a horse was worth the stiffness! She was on her horse for an hour or more.

It's supposed to rain today, but right now all I see is blue sky and sunshine. Will probably stick in town and take in some local sights.

Not much more to report on our travels or my knitting and spinning.

The last of our road trips

2008-05-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last of our day trips. As per Mapquest, we spent 10 hours 55 minutes in the car and logged 512.6 miles on my car!

Our last day we got a late start on our trip to Wisconsin Mom had packed a lunch so we stopped in Cornucopia to eat it. We all walked around on the sand beach after eating before continuing our trip.

We arrived in Bayfield, Wisconsin around 2:15 to learn that the Madeline Island Museum had closed 15 minutes before we arrived in Bayfield! We still took the ferry to the island and walked around. There was some work being done on the island that caused them to turn off the electriciy in areas. It was surprisingly hot on the island. A quick look around and we hopped back on the ferry to return to the mainland, back in the car, and off to Ashland to a yarn shop there to pick up some drop spindles and roving.

We all agreed our favorite spot was Split Rock. It's too bad as I'm sure our trip to Madeline Island could have been much greater had the museum not been closed; it was a let down. To do all the research I did, check to see they're open, their hours, entrance fees, etc., and to get there for nothing!

God's Country

2008-05-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

Have continued to enjoy the time with out of state relatives. This week, I've gotten to play tour guide, dragging my mom and niece to places I love in the Northern Minnesota area.

Tuesday we traveled north west and visited the Tower Soudan Under Ground Mine. It always amazes me being so far under ground; I can not even begin to imagine what it must have been like to work there. After our visit at the mine, we continued our drive further into the wilderness with a quick stop in Ely before returning home to Duluth.

Wednesday we drove north east with a drive up the North Shore. Our first stop was at a LBS (local bead store) for some beads. I wanted to find something to match my new top and settled upon some green chalk turquoise. While the clerk was helping another customer, I helped myself to her tools and made myself a pair of earrings!

We continued our trip up Scenic Hwy 61 with a stop at a Historical Landmark, another quick stop at Kendal's Fish Market for some Minnesota Wild Rice before arrival at a LYS I'd heard about. Playing With Yarn is a rather small shop with a ton of yarn, pattern books, and other fiber paraphernalia. I was on overload as there was just too much in such a small place!

After another stop for lunch, we arrived at our destination: Split Rock Lighthouse. The weather was great! After our tour around the lighthouse grounds, my niece and I took the long walk down to the shore; my mother chose to stay topside as the walk back up is killer! I love taking family to this lighthouse; it is so beautiful sitting on that cliff. We played a bit on the shoreline, building rock piles, taking pictures, splashing in the cold water before heading back up the hill.

Today, Thursday, is our trip to Wisconsin and the "south shore." We plan to take the ferry to Madeline Island, then stop off at another LYS in Ashland to purchase roving and a couple drop spindles.

Another nice day is in the forecast; maybe this weekend I'll be able to take them to some touristy places here in town!

Those Darn Frogs!

2008-05-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

After a detailed look at the pictures, it was determined that the spinning wheel would take upwards of $200 to "fix" and then there still wouldn't be a guarantee it would spin correctly! I decided I'd save the money and put it towards a new model. I hope to pick up roving and a drop spindle this week and dabble with that.

The second sock has been quite a "problem child"! While giving my MIL her second lesson in knitting, I realized I'd dropped a stitch at about the time I divided for the heel. I had turned the heel and picked up stitches and was working on the gusset. I tried to drop a stitch on my needle and work down to it, but there had been too many changes in the knitting pattern so I had no choice but to frog 40 +/- rows!

Turning of the heel then caused me great difficulty for what ever reason; knit three frog two! Eventually, I got it done and am now have about 3 or 4 inches before I decrease for the toe.

With family here, I am not getting as much knitting done either, nor spending as much time listing completed projects for my etsy store.

Spinning Wheel

2008-05-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Am I nuts? Do I need yet ANOTHER hobby?

I came across this spinning wheel; have no clue if any parts are missing although, from all the diagrams I've looked at, it appears to have all the parts (there are other parts on other pictures).

It's cheaper then any of them I've seen go on eBay. I keep saying I don' t have the time; but since when has that stopped me!?

So - am I nuts!?

Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

2008-05-18T04:27:00.001-07:00

I had hoped to make it to the LYS Saturday and meet local knitters I've met on Ravelry, but that didn't happen. My MIL had knee surgery last week and was moved to at a rehab center Friday night. I'd planned to go visit her after an hour or so at LYS knitting, but, oh well, the best laid plans! Prior to walking out the door, I phoned MIL to see if she needed me to bring anything, I was given a rather large and detailed list. I felt like I was an intruder as I went through her house, drawers, cupboards, and closets searching for items! Though she's always welcomed me into her home, I've never ventured into the private areas of her house!

There were a few items I could not find, even after going back several times looking in the same drawer (as if it would magically appear?), so I had to to the local discount store. While I was at the store, I figured I should get my weekend shopping done as I hate shopping at this store on a Saturday (too many people!) and the thought of two trips in one day there didn't sit well with me. It was well after noon when I walked out of the store, and one of the gals I was going to meet said she'd leave around 12:00, so I went directly to see my MIL!

A while ago, she'd mentioned she'd like to learn to knit; Thursday I dropped off a learn to knit book, needles, and a skein of yarn. Yesterday I gave her her first knitting lesson! I spent a good hour trying to teach her how to cast on before she finally "got it." I wanted to get her stitches cast on, and then teach her the knit stitch. She insisted she's not ready to do the knitting and is going to practice casting on until my next visit! No matter what I said, I could not get her to let me teach her the knit stitch. Even telling her how much trouble I had learning to cast on and how I used to have my girlfriend cast on for me wouldn't get her to move on! I'll phone her later today and find out if she's master casting on yet; she was doing very well when we put it down to take a coffee and cookie break! She'd attempted casting on by herself so we had to learn the correct way and unlearning wrong ways to learn it the right way takes so much time!

The little bird I spoke of earlier is a Blackburnian Warbler. A flighty little thing that would not allow me very close to himself or his girlfriend. I was creeping around the miniature horses' pen, hiding behind trees to get a shot from my camera. He sat for a bit on "they boys" feeder, I was able to get a few shots before he flitted off to another place trying to get away from that human hunting him down with a camera!

I have continued to work on my second sock. Nine more rows and I'll turn for the heel; this one is moving along much faster than my first sock! That first one, I could only knit for 5 or 10 minutes without my shoulder screaming in pain. I think I may be getting hooked on socks! It is nice to be able to start and finish a project in such a short amount of time.

I'm so glad my row counter has numbers. For the oddest reason, when moving it from one needle to the next, picking up the next number, I kept dropping it (never had this issue before, or maybe I just never noticed the problem?), it was nice to know which number I was on so all I had to do was pick up the row counter and place it back on the needle at the correct number few times I dropped it. I guess if I drop stitches, dropping row counters shouldn't have surprised me!

I see many socks in my future. I will attempt a pattern out of Cat's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters Book One for my next pair of socks! There are some summer ankle socks I'd like to try also.

This is far more then I'd planned to type, sorry if I bored you!

Summer is just around the corner

2008-05-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week I spotted a bird I'd never seen. Was able to grab my camera but do not know if I got close enough to determine what it was. I'm thinking a warbler, but we'll see.

Was a beautiful day yesterday with a high in the mid 70's.

I am now working on the heel of the second sock; hope to go to the LYS and work on it with other knitters.

My MIL is in rehab from knee surgery and has always talked about learning to knit, so I gave her a little book, a pair of needles, and a skein of yarn. She seemed excited. I hope to drop in on her today after the stop at the LYS and see if I can help her get started. Casting one was the hardest for me to learn!

I guess today is short and sweet - another beautiful day outside. Getting a lot of my spring cleanning done. Have lists written, so will pick up various items in addition to stopping by the LYS and my MIL.

SORRY IF THIS IS HARD TO READ, I CAN'T GET THE EXTRA SPACING BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS TO STAY!

One Sock, Two Sock

2008-05-14T03:26:00.000-07:00

The rain started after lunch, had slowed some so that when I got home from work, I could do my "barn chores" without the rain, the rain started back up shortly after I went inside. So, what is a girl to do? I had thought of riding but just didn't want to deal with a muddy, wet horse. DH said he ate a late lunch (aka--I don't have to cook dinner), so I pulled out my knitting.

I cannot find a one-legged person to give my sock to, so I am forced to attempt another one to complete my pair!

What a difference the right equipment, knowledge, and experience make! While casting on, I used my new little copper and teal stitch markers every 10 stitches. What a breeze! Cast on 10, count last 10 stitches to check, place marker, repeat! I used to cast, count, cast more, count all, repeat! (I wasn't going to stop and take a picture! I just LOVE this style of markers!)

While doing the cuff, I used one of my row counters and that was far better then little slips of paper (since making and using them I really haven't done a lot of 'have to count' type knitting as it's been "repeat for 10 inches" type of patterns).

When I picked up and started working on the first sock last week, I found a slip of paper with little hash marks here and there - I really had no clue which marks went with the particular part of the sock I was working on!

Another difference between the first and second sock is that the first sock was started shortly after my accident and surgery. I was home, bored to tears! My arm was in a sling, and to knit, I'd have to "pack" my left arm with pillows (and ice) so it didn't move much. I could only knit for about 5 or 10 minutes at a time. When I say the first 10 rows (cuff) took me two days, it did, in 5 or 10 minutes slots of time! I hadn't done a lot purl stitches, to the K1, P1 was painfully slow without the issues with my arm!

Last night, after casting on and finishing the first row, I ran to my craft room and made a matching row counter. I was in such a hurry that the #7 is upside down when compared to the other numbers! Oh well, it's for me, I'll fix it when I'm not in a rush to knit!!!

While watching TV, I completed 23 rows as shown in the picture above. I just love the antique copper next to these beads as they have the same color of oxidized copper! I no longer have to count rows, but have decided I want to see how many rows are in that 7 inches I have to knit!

I got lucky as the first sock ended in the right spot to start the next sock; my pair of socks should even match!

Baby, it's cold outside

2008-05-12T17:32:00.001-07:00

It is so cold outside, the calendar says May, but the weather is more like March!

I didn't get much knitting done Sunday with my trip to the barn, but I did manage to break a knitting needle. I guess it wasn't such a good idea to try on the sock I'm knitting! Ooops!

I spent the evening Monday knitting my sock and I'm the proud owner on ONE completed sock! I either need to get busy knitting the other, or find a one-footted friend! Other then the cuff, the heel, and the toe, socks really are rather simple...knit, knit, knit....oh, and knit!

Now the question is what next? Do I get that other sock done so I have a pair? Do I get my weekend Sweater done because it's so huge, and if we continue to have such a cold spring I'll be able to wear it before putting it away for the season? My "butter yellow ribbed-mock-t-neck", again, it's so cold that it may be a month before I can wear it? Or my scarf -- which I think I'll make and give away.

Last week I gave a gallon zip lock bag of miniature horse hair to a friend who weaves; she's going to see if it can be weaved. Wouldn't that be silly to have a pair of Sox-Socks?

Sox, one of my Miniature horses

A Healing Ride

2008-05-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

Last November I had a terrible fall from my horse - it required surgery and some pretty intense rehab (and NO knitting).

I've ridden my horse, but we've stayed in the safety of the arena. I've been invited on a trail ride, but was having too much anxiety, so I hung back.

Yesterday I took a baby step! I decided I would need to take it slow and that my first ride outside of the arena would NOT be a trail ride. After riding her bareback in the arena, I put her saddle on and we ventured out around the grounds. We went maybe 200 or 300 feet and back, but I rode her in the big wide open! We even trotted!

So, my recovery continues to progress and I'm getting "my life" back!

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T05:47:00.001-07:00

My mother and niece are coming from Alaska May 22, so we spent yesterday doing things that we want done before their arrival.

We moved the manure/compost pile to my various garden spots along the trails that go through our woods. The temperatures were decent; not so cold you had to have gloves and a hat on, but cool enough you weren't getting hot from the hard work. My shoulder is still not quite right, so I did more "supervising" then the heavy labor I normally do when we do this yearly chore.

I was able to come in the house while DS and DH were finishing up so I could "get dinner going." While they were taking showers, I went through my "knitting stuff" and determine what projects I need to get going on as well as see yarns I forgot I had! Joining Ravelry really has spured my knitting on.

After dinner, I was able to organize my projects and get some knitting done:

Two more inches on my sock before I get to decrease for the toe. I hope to complete the other one so that I have a pair, hopefully with less frogging, more knitting! For what ever reason, turning the heel caused me a great amount of difficulty!

I really need to finish my Mock T-neck as it IS a summer sweater. This poor little sweater has been my "go-to" project to work on when in between or bored with other projects. It's time to pull it to the front and "git r done"!

The weekend sweater (above) only needs a couple hours to finish. I may not be able to wear it until this fall (hopeful thinking!); I really should give it a final push and finish it. It is large, takes up a lot of room and it's still early enough in the spring to be able to wear it (after all, I did wear the first one I made yesterday when DH and I ran a few errands in the morning).

My little "Summer Scarf" will just have to wait. I love the yarn, the stitch is going well, but I'm not sure if it will be wide enough.

This morning, I awoke to a beautiful plant on our diningroom table from DS - a beatiful hanging plant, pictured above.

I also took pictures of my projects in process -- right now they are all for me! I'll have to see if I can find pictures of my finished projects that have been completed for others, but I think I knit and give away, I may only have one or two pictures to post on Ravelry.

Today the plans are DS and DH will leave me alone to do what ever it is I want (go ride my horse). I should pick one project and complete it....maybe today I should complete that Weekend Sweater and be done with it!

Hope all the Mom's have a day that is for THEM!

May 10, 1994

2008-05-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here I go, attempting to keep up with the online-Jone's and have a blog. I have found it rather interesting reading other people's blogs as they share the day-to-day events of their lives. Kind of like Seinfeld; Nothing too special, just life!

Spring is attempting to take it's hold in the Northland. I'm tempting fate - this week I unplugged the miniature horse's heated water bucket and put out the summer trough. I recall last year doing this too soon and ended up trying to pop a 30 gallon ice cube out of the water trough!

Last fall we had the back yard leveled and tossed grass seed -- the birds seem to be enjoying eating it, so I wonder how long it will take us to get that grass going with the birds eating the seeds. It is wonderful to be outside and hear all the bird calls; now if they'd just eat the sunflower we have out and leave the grass seed alone!!!

The deer have gotten braver and have been eating the tulips growing up near the house (the pictures above is of two of them last December - I enjoyed them then, when my garden was protected under snow!). I ran some electric fencing around my back flower bed and have had one visitor try to eat the tulips in that bed. One morning, the electric fence was down, with insulators all over the yard. I'd like to run electric fence around the flower beds up near the house, but DH doesn't want the ugly yellow fence in the front yard!

I have several stitch markers I need to list in my Etsy store, some orders to mail out. I need to finish at least one knit project before too long into the summer: a buttery-yellow short-sleeved mocked turtle neck. I should log off and work on them.