Life and Yarn or Yarn and Life

I Bungled It…

2012-02-16T15:26:00.001-05:00

I usually write my blog posts off the cuff….I don’t plan them…and I usually just write and post them…but I feel I need to address an issue….

I am participating in the Blog Hub Swap, as I said….and the person who sent me my package is hurt, angry and disappointed in me. Now I had already identified her as the person who sent me the swap package before I read her latest post, and she went public with her anger.

Now we share several readers, so readers are going to put the two together, even though she did not identify me.

I had privately apologized to her for bungling this up before the post. Unfortunately it’s a case of life sometimes gets in the way.

I had several things going on this week, it was a stressful week and the fact is I am leaving on a planned trip for four days. So while I am planning on blogging, and did plan on blogging, it just did not happen as soon as I got the gifts.

However I did express to her privately how thrilled I was with them…

Secondly, through a mistake on my part I did open all the gifts. I had opened the first gift and messaged her about it….when she made a comment about the yarn…I thought oh I can open all the gifts and I did….and I loved them….but it was a mistake on my part…

So I have apologized to her privately and explained that it is just one of those weeks…and now I have done it publicly. I am not going to get into a blog war about this and this will be the last time I address it. If this ruins our online blog friendship, well so be it…I have enjoyed having her as a blog friend and will continue to read and enjoy her blog….

And just as a last…this is the kind of week it is…I have also been on antibiotics for a week battling an ear infection….and now I have an hour to finish packing and go to the airport…I just got home from work…

Blog Swap–Day 3

2012-02-16T15:22:00.001-05:00

This package was a complete surprise to me…..but something I had plenty about and was oh so curious!!!!!

Chocolate! Cadbury chocolate and Kinder chocolate and a KInder Surprise Egg! We do not have those in the US…..I have not tried any of them yet….I’m saving them for just the right moment…but my mouth is salvitating just thinking about the….now the Hubs, he is going to get the Haribo mix…I’ll try it, but I’m not a huge fan of our candy..but I’ll try it…the Hubs..he loves sour candy..I’m sweet, he’s sour…

I’ll be back in a few days with the last four of my surprises, as I’ll not be around for a couple of days…busy weekend…

Blog Swap–Day 2

2012-02-16T05:28:00.001-05:00

I am a fool for journals….I buy lots and lots of journals….I randomly use them for different things….I like to write and I am trying to get myself into the idea of writing more frequently…

I’ve always been bad at keeping journals/diaries….this blog is the most successful one I’ve ever kept…..so how thrilled was I to get a journal…and not just any journal, but a journal from across the Pond…

And look on the left side…a nice little surprise pen….another loves…I love fun pens…and you know what? This pen has the British flag (Union Jack?) on it….and you know what? I can use that in Social Studies RIGHT NOW…cuz you know what? We are studying the American Revolution….and you know what? They are creating a project book and it had a British flag in one of the pictures for them to color….and you know what? I had to use the Hawaii flag that is in our Social Studies book…it looks like this…

I did not know that the flag from Hawaii had the Union Jack as part of it….look we all learn something new in Social Studies….I love Social Studies!

My new pen…

Blog Swap - Day 1

2012-02-15T20:03:00.003-05:00

This year I participated in the Blog Swap on Ravelry. On Friday I returned home to a slip from Fedex…I wanted to go and grab my package from them, but they were still in transit…
So Monday I received a very heavy package from Kismet’s Companion. I was thrilled she was my surprise partner, as we have been visiting each other’s blogs for quite some time….And I knew she made soap….we here at Chez Gracey like the handmade soap…
I opened the package and MMMMMM…it smelled GOOD! And I took all the packages out and lined them up…..

There were little notes, so I opened “One, Two, this box is from who?” first and received some fantastic postcards! I collect postcards and love them…they were of local places of interest in Suffolk, England with a local guide of Ipswich….it’s very beautiful there! Ever since I was a teenager, I have wanted to visit Great Britain…I haven’t gotten there yet…..but one day….
Now there was another wrapped package that said it went with number one…and it was local made Strawberry Jam…YUM!!!!!

Now I have to tell you…one of the things I liked the most…was the wrapping paper…I LOVE flags! and although I am not a huge pink fan (well the singer I love)…I absolutely ADORED this wrapping paper….I tried to rip it as little as possible and am trying to figure out what I can do with it….
So I have seven things to open and blog about….there will be another tomorrow…however then I’ll be away for a few days…so I will resume next week…
I love swaps….and this one has been awesome already!

Hi Folks…..

2012-02-06T19:47:00.001-05:00

So much to say…today I was observed for an hour and a half by my supervisor….it gave me a headache…..

I went shopping again…yeah I know…that whole waiting to April thing…well I’m in two swaps and well I had to go get them something and I came away with..

It was 1/2 price…and I’ve been wanting a black cowl…

The door said they had Zealana yarn…been hearing about it…It was $$$, but hard to find, so I’m going to give it a try…

I was OMG! Look at those colors! Yeah it jumped into my basket too… Tosh Sock in Foxglove…thinking a summer shawl/scarf thingy…

and oh yeah..there is yarn you can buy online….did you know that?

Nerd Girl Yarns…she finally released Stargate!

And while I was there I also picked up DoctorDonna, my favorite Dr. Who companion combination..

And then, Random Fandom shipped and it was “You Call This Archeology?” inspired by Indiana Jones. I’m thinking socks inspired by Daniel Jackson, the archeologist of Stargate…

Yes, because NERD WARS has begun again!!!!!!! I have yet to make anything, but I’m thinking….

And :( I lost a follower….must have bored them… or something…

FO - FUGLY Socks

2012-01-27T06:09:00.001-05:00

I finished these earlier this week….Yep, they are ugly and not the same.and just wrong…The sock on the right? It was my first sock ever started…and it took me months to finish it…..I also was knitting as if to purl (get it?) and then when I realized what I was doing wrong I changed it…on the foot….It’s baggy and the foot is too small….

The second sock I started knitting it correctly and realized it was not going to match the first one….so I knit it wrong….until I got part way done with the foot and realized it was way TOO BIG!! So I ripped back to approx where I started knitting correctly on the other sock….but wanting them to at least kinda match, it also is too small in the foot, but better that the first one…

So what do I do with them? I think they are going to be inside slippers socks…I wear socks in my slippers when my feet are cold…I was going to felt them, but the foot is too small…

Sure they are fugly, but I learned from them…and hey look at the difference in my tension!!!

I still have these that came out all right

and if I photograph them at certain angles, they look okay…

I still have one lone sock to make a match…my Jaywalker

Maybe this weekend…..if I dare….

Want to see more Finished Objects and Fiber Related posts, head over to

Stash Sunday

2012-01-22T09:41:00.002-05:00

SO I popped onto Facebook one day last week….I am not a Facebook addict! I pop in and out, see if there is anything of interest, but I’m usually on less than five minutes. I don’t play the games, I don’t do the surveys, I rarely re-post anything….but it is a way to stay in touch with family…
So anyhoo, while there The Loopy Ewe posted their weekly update…and wouldn’t ya’ know, it was Wollmeise….Now if you have not heard of Wollmeise, it is that mythical, fairy-butt yarn that everyone talks about…I have four skeins, two were gifted, one I traded for and one, I was lucky enough to purchase. (I friended someone who lived near the shop in Germany)
So I skeedadled over to The Loopy Ewe and purchased two skeins…all skeins were gone within about 30 minutes! I had a bit of trouble, as my account seemed nowhere, so I opened a new one…but I received the mythical yarn this week..
Ebenholz, a rich chocolate brown
Spinaci, a greens green
The colors are just so saturated….I never want to undo the skeins, as they are so tightly wound….

See this swatch? Yup, it’s a swatch for my Nerd Wars dissertation….it’s about 4 x 5 inches and took me about 2 hours….damn knitting is so much slower than crochet! The yarn is Madelinetosh Merino Light in Moorland.

A Trip Uptown

2012-01-17T06:24:00.001-05:00

So on Saturday, after I ate, I decided to head uptown to

However I made a rookie mistake….see I’m pretty comfortable on the subway…I’ve been going back and forth to the city for years…my dad was born and raised there…my aunt lived in Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn until about 15 or so years ago….

I headed uptown and got off on the EAST side and I needed to be on the WEST side…..slap forehead….I didn’t realize it until I’d walked about 4 blocks away from the subway station….so I headed west and kept walking…

then I came to the park, that would be Central Park. Central Park is what divides the west from the east side of the city….It wasn’t really cold, so I figured I’d walk it, but I also had a pretty full bladder at this point…so I looked at a map and spotted some bathrooms and then tried to find them…

That’s my meandering (really I was lost) through the park trying to find a bathroom and after giving up on that, just trying to get out of the park! (The red line shows where I got off on the subway and walked before entering the park)

I thought about hiring a pedicab, yeah, but that would involve uneven bumps along the way…didn’t think my bladder could take that…so I plodded on and on and on….Central Park is about 1/2 mile wide, but I’m sure I walked at least a mile with all my curves and turns….PLUS I came to several deadends and had to back track, as parts of the park are being renovated and were closed off with fencing…It was not a pleasurable experience….I seriously was looking for a boulder big enough to squat behind….but was afraid of being arrested for indecent exposure!

Thankfully it only got cold when the wind blew, so I wasn’t freezing….it actually would have been a nice walk and I would have taken pictures, IF I didn’t have an urgent need…..

Thankfully I finally made it out of the park and turned down a street that had at the end, a Starbucks….and as I walked in I chanted, “Please have a bathroom, please have a bathroom..” cuz you never know in NYC….They did, with a line….I was doing the dance by the time I got in there….

Then I made my way to Knitty City…It’s a great little shop, seemed friendly, but was really busy, so I didn’t take any pictures…..

Then I walked to the end of their street to the subway and headed back to Grand Central Station…..and the end of my day in New York City…

Stash Sun…er Monday

2012-01-16T07:36:00.001-05:00

So what did I come home with, you ask?

Midnight in Manhattan by Madelinetosh in Tosh Sock. I had a hard time deciding on the weight….This is an exclusive yarn to The Yarn Company. This was the first thing I bought, headed right for their booth!

This yarn I have been waiting awhile to get. I bought the pattern when I went to their store in Derry, NH and I really liked the yarn in the pattern. Alas they had just sold out of it at the NH Sheep and Wool. And they were having a problem with their distributor and sock yarn…so when I saw they were at this show, I stalked them again and yeah! They had the yarn!

Then I was wandering around and picked up a couple of Three Irish Girl skeins and looked at them. Then one of the “salespeople” said there was a pattern for those exact two colors, so what could I do? I bought both and the pattern (was surprised that pattern was not given for free with the purchase of yarn!)

Ryan

Enna

Then I was done at the show….so hungry…I ended up at Rockefeller Center, down the street and had a burger…

Refreshed I headed uptown to Knitty City (that is a blog post of it’s own)

But there I purchased 4 more skeins…

a new yarn to me Wool Candy in Tweed.

Berroco Flicker 3307

Cascade Superwash (it’s more grey than blue)

and

Rowan Cashsoft dk in Githic Green. This green reminds me of pine needles…

So where does that leave my guessers….well WonderWHyGal guessed 4, and I did leave the show with 4 skeins. But I then bought 4 more at Knitty City…so technically I came home with 8. Noone guessed 8, so I’m going to do a random number thingy….

It did it’s thing and it picked comment #6, which bizarrely is Tammy! (Which is my given name!) So maybe I need to keep the gifty for myself? Just kidding! Congratulations Tammy!

Vogue Live

2012-01-15T08:40:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I meandered into New York City for Vogue Knitting Live. On the train, I met Sarah from Threads magazine, so we walked to the show together. We parted ways once we got in, I was there to shop and she was doing more research type work. She wanted to speak to some of the authors.

Okay, if you read my blog regularly, you know that I go to lots of yarny type events….one word for Vogue Knitting Live ….claustrophobic! Most of the booths were jammed in together and they all had curtains up to separate the different vendors. Whoever organized it, sure it may separate them, but it makes a small space seem so much more smaller! I was told by a vendor that another vendor asked to remove the curtains, but was told they had to leave them up. The vendors on the end had much more room. There were two floors and stages that took up quite a bit of room on both floors….I don’t think I’d go again, unless I was taking a class….definitely not for just the marketplace…

1st floor stage

Back of the room, where there was more room…those are the curtains that separated every booth. First vendor I went to was this one….The Yarn Co to get some of that yarn I showed the other day…Midnight in Manhatten by Madelinetosh. It’s exclusive to their store…I’m not usually a blue fan, but I really wanted some…I scored a skein of the DK….

There was as second floor, with some fun exhibits…

Yarn bombing

Look at this!

It was in the Gallery, not sure who made it, as I did not stop and peruse it for long…

Also in the gallery…

It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!!

And sitting next to it was Anna Hrachovec, the author of Knitting Mochimochi and Teeny, Tiny Mochimochi. I got a signed copy of the second book, because really there is nothing cuter than tiny gnomes! I’m going to give it a shot, as I’ve never done knitting amigurami, and this is very small!

I wandered around a bit more, spoke to several people that I see at these shows…and then I’d had enough…it was a little after 12 and I decided to leave. I was hungry, hot, tired and just a bit claustrophobic….

but that was not the end of the day…stay tuned….

How Many Did I Come Home With?

2012-01-14T21:18:00.002-05:00

Well I left Vogue Knitting with only 4.....however I then went to Knitty City and bought 4 more...so 8...I have two that were closest, but none at 8...Gonna have a think on this and get back to you...details tomorrow!

BRRRRR>>>it freakin got cold!

2012-01-13T20:07:00.000-05:00

Maybe I need some new yarn to warm me up...hahahahahaha...

look at the pretty I just found! I wants!

They will be there tomorrow, wonder if they'll have some.....

Yeah, I didn't advertise my little guessing contest, as I want my "regulars" to have more of a chance to win....

Waiting for the boys to start...

Then heading to bed.....

I have not worked on any projects since finishing the hats, as my thumbs have been hurting...so figured while on time-out from Nerd Wars, I'd give them a break...

Yeah...good intentions....

2012-01-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

Yah know that whole working from stash...and trying not to buy until April...uhm yeah well I bought two skeins of Nerd Girl Yarn the other day AND I just scored some Wollmeise in The Loopy Ewe update!

And, oh yeah I'm going to go to Vogue Knitting Live on Saturday...just to the marketplace...uhm..wanna take any bets on how many skeins I come home with? I'll pick up something for the closest guesser...

I'll take guesses until Saturday at 9:00 EST.....worldwide.....

Same Ole’ Same Ole

2012-01-11T06:24:00.001-05:00

It is much bigger…now measuring 48 inches across….I thought I was going to have to end it soon…thought I might be out of the blue yarn (and I’m trying to use stash yarn) But went up to the storage bin to drop off some school stuff and found another skein…so will continue. (My storage bin is about 1/4 filled with yarn, 1/2 filled with school stuff and 1/4 filled with Hubs stuff…)

I also pulled out my A Breath of Fresh Air scarf. I received this in a club from The Loopy Ewe and started it back in March or April. The first post I have is April, so I’ll say April…

I am also still making my way through A Dance with Dragons…I did finally see A Game of Thrones on HBO….wow!

Please check out these places for some more projects…

It’s A Hit!

2012-01-09T06:20:00.001-05:00

The father of babe-to-be has claimed the Yoda hat….

Stash Sunday Jan 8

2012-01-08T11:30:00.001-05:00

I do have new stash today! I received my latest Nerd Girl Random Fandom yarn…

Doesn’t it look like the colors of a sunset?

It was inspired by Codex of The Guild. The Guild is a web series created by Felicia Day about a group of people who play an online multi-person game…I’ve seen a couple of episodes because Wil Wheaton is in it, but I don’t follow the series…

Here is a picture of Codex’s online persona

The Last Two

2012-01-07T03:07:00.000-05:00

The last two hats made in hatpoloosa of 2012!

The first one is just a basic hat pattern. I made it using leftover "I Love This Yarn" in Candycorn...Ravelled here.

The second one is a square one...I thought the square patterns were very cute! It is Ravelled here . It is a free pattern. This hat was fun to make and I'll probably make it in a worsted weight...Surprise, surprise I actually had the yarn called for in the pattern (and it only took about a 1/4 of the ball and I have 2 other balls of it) But the hook was so small it split the yarn a lot...that was irritating!

So all the hats of hat-poloosa (except the original one ) were made with stash yarn! Yeah me!

Hat–poloosa

2012-01-06T08:17:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I am going to a baby shower….and the Mom-to-Be had shown me a flowered baby hat on Etsy and asked if I could make something like that..I said sure….she then mentioned she just wanted a cute hat to use to take pictures….then a few days later she linked to a Yoda hat and commented on it (not to me)….so I thought hats, I’m going to make her some hats…I’ve made 9! And I started two others…one is with candy corn striped yarn…it’s going to be just a regular hat with a giant pompom…the other is one of those square looking hats…and I have used all yarn from my stash…imagine my joy at finding Yoda colored yarn! I’ve made a variety of sizes…
basic newborn hat
Yoda hat (alpaca yarn felted)
An owl (her nursery has owls) My favorite
A puppy (The Hubs says it’s creepy) but the Mom-to-Be enjoys creepy…made her the bride and groom from Creepy crochet…The colors are the colors of her actual Australian sheep dog…but should I put a nose on it?
I made this hat a long time ago and it’s been sitting around, so I added the caterpillar and called it done…
I had the flowers made, they were leftover from a scarf I made, so I designed the hat around them..it’ll be a cute sunbonnet..my favoritest yarn Manos de Uruguay cotton stria, which they have discontinued (I horde it when I find it in stores)
Suppose to be a monkey, but ears are wrong, kinda looks like a bear…may make the ears bigger or put a monkey face on it…what do you think?
The one that started it all…again, cotton stria…..
So this is what I’ve been making this week….
You can check out these links for more FO’s…

ETA: There are nine..the first one I made awhile ago and posted about it here

My Day

2012-01-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

It was Twin Day at school…..nobody was my twin…but my besties in second grade were triplets…

The Three Kings came to visit

and I met a new puppy, Isabella, Izzy for short…

How was your day?

Surmount The Stash

2012-01-02T09:36:00.001-05:00

So I decided to join this group this year…

Now I don’t have an issue with having a large stash…and the Hubs doesn’t either…He calls it my “Retirement Fund” But since I’m at least 20 years away from retiring and I know I’ll keep adding, I need to try shopping from the stash…

So my goal this year is to “shop from the stash” I am not stopping myself from buying, just trying to buy more judiciously…

I belong to two yarn clubs and will continue to receive those shipments….but I’m going to try holding off on other buying until April for the Connecticut Sheep and Wool….we’ll see how it goes…

I’ve already shopped from the stash quite a bit this weekend!

But these are also my latest stash acquisitions…

Won online, it’s Cakewalk Yarns in Rhinebeck…I’ll be making something for Rhinebeck from this… Won online, it’s from Kitchen Sink Dye Works, which has since closed…

And the yarn for the sock kit I ordered from Schmutzerella Yarns for “Have I Ever Steered You Wrong?” These all came in last week….

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-12-31T15:07:00.001-05:00

I’ve never made a collage before, so I just tried it…it was a tad frustrating, but I think I got it..these are my favorite things that I made from this year..

My Wil-key is probably one of the favoritest things I’ve ever made…and I free handed him an outfit….I love my Raspberry Sherbet, as a reader named the dog. He makes me smile….

The Kathy Merrick flowered scarf/shawl is my favorite thing I’ve ever made. I was wearing it yesterday and told the Hubs that….

Ba’al’s dagger was just fun….Deidre’s cowl…it made her so happy and she wears it all the time…the pumpkin was just cute, I hope the recipient liked him as mush as I did…My first knitted socks….one of the two birds I made this year, the other went to Germany…The Hub’s ripple, which he uses every day…and my Mission Falls set, which I so love…

I made 72 “things” this year…the most being fingerless gloves and hats…I had a productive year!

Here’s to making 100 next year! (I count small things like squares too!)

It’s Wednesday….

2011-12-28T09:09:00.001-05:00

time for some WIP’s

The afghan is coming along…it’s a little over 3 feet now…probably will go to 4 feet and then decide if I want it bigger from there. I started it for my FIL, but he got a nice cuddly heated blanket for Christmas (he is always cold) so now not sure I’m going to give it to him, as don’t think he will use it….

The pink thing is my Tunisian scarf….I pick this up and work on it, but I think I may frog it…as it is suppose to be a scarf, but only one side has the stitch pattern….so still deciding on that…

and I am working on the gussets for my ugly green socks….I’m thinking of felting these when done and using them for slippers….they are big on me and this one is a bit longer than the other one…sigh….

I picked up A Dance with Dragons again….After slamming through the first 4 books, I was kinda lingering through this one….but now I have HBO and am watching the mini-series…so back to the book

and I got a nook tablet for Christmas – Yeah! The funny thing is the Hubs has a regular nook and he can download his books anywhere….I have to be connected to wifi….we don’t have wifi, so the only signal I can get is standing in one spot in my dining room…after I download I am fine….but now I have ordered wifi, am waiting for the router to be delivered….

Oh so I finally started The Help on the nook….

If you’d like to see more, please visit…

Baloo Gets a Gift

2011-12-26T07:48:00.001-05:00

Baloo is our Pionus parrot. He’s about 15 years old. And loves me and tolerates the Hubs. I let the Hubs feed him for the most part, so he knows where his food is coming from….The Hubs bought him a present.

He tried to open it.

Finally, he said, “Hey! I need some help here!”

The Hubs opened the bag and cracked a walnut for him (his favorite kind of nut….mine too) His beak is not quite big enough to crack a walnut.

He’s got such a great personality…Never thought much of birds having personalities, but he definitely does….

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T00:53:00.000-05:00

I just returned from our Christmas Eve service. I have not attended in many years. I have been to church; to baptisms, weddings and funerals, but I haven't been to a service in my church in a very long time.

I'm not a big one on "organized" religion, it's more of a personal relationship for me. But it is a good feeling to attend a church service and I've been thinking about it for awhile...I think I may start going back, at least once in awhile...

These were taken around 10:30 at night

Methodist church down the street (sorry it's blurry - took hurridly from car)

My church..I also went to school there from 5th-8th grade...that's the church office/school building on the right.

My First Gift

2011-12-24T08:41:00.001-05:00

See Indigodragonfly had a special offer for Holiday Giftapalooza. So essentially I bought an unknown gift for a stranger and was sent an unknown gift…

So what did I get?

A lovely skein of merino/cashmere/silk in “Laugh It Up, Snowball” It’ really quite soft

A bag..I loves me bags…with mutant zombie squirrels

a tape measure and pattern from the lovely Natalie, who has some great patterns, but this is my first…

and a few smaller goodies…..yeah!

And I’ve won this past week two blog giveaways! Since the Hubs said he didn’t buy me any yarn this year…I have to fend for myself!

Bawahwahwah!

It’s Friday!

2011-12-23T07:58:00.001-05:00

And that means finished objects…and oh yeah…the start of my holiday! Whoop!

It was a Christmas gift for a friend…I made it with Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande Hand Dyed. Nice yarn, very luscious and squooshy!

And yesterday this popped into my classroom:

This is Luke and he is 5 months old and he is wearing the sweater I made his brother Jack four years ago…

It was a little worn in spots, but still holding up….They have a sister Cindy…I made her a blanket, but do not have a picture of it….

If you’d like to see more projects, please head over to..

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-12-21T06:07:00.001-05:00

The afghan is coming along…the little green circle is the beginnings of a hat…and then my very badly knitted sock…I am on the whole separate stitches, so I can do the heel part….and I need to focus on that….

Today I bought the two magazines peeking out at the top, so I’ll be browsing through those for the next few days……

As always, if you want to see more, check out these blogs…..

Happy First Night of Hanukkah

2011-12-20T17:10:00.001-05:00

Susan at Juniper Moon shared this...great video!

Hey You There….

2011-12-20T07:32:00.001-05:00

I want a scratch….

Winding Sunday

2011-12-19T06:05:00.001-05:00

This is how I spent my Sunday…winding yarn and watching

had an urge to watch the Doctor, and I usually choose #10, but hadn’t seen #9 in several years….

Stash Sunday

2011-12-18T07:25:00.001-05:00

Today I have some stash enhancement….this arrived in the mail

It’s Tosh Merino Light…it’s for this. Which I have been dying to make….I just got one of his books too….I love his linear designs….today I listed to a podcast with him at A Playful Day.

So it is a Nerd Wars challenge, not sure I’ll get it done…but it is a landscape challenge and I took my inspiration from Cheyenne Mountain. The setting for Stargate Command…

This second picture is the what the establishing shot looks like in the show….I think I matched the colors pretty well…what do you think? Not sure about the pinky one, but the other three work well..

Today, I

2011-12-17T10:04:00.002-05:00

am catching up on blog reading with several cups of tea…..then I need to do a little online shopping…baby it’s too cold outside and I don’t want to go anywhere near the mall on the last weekend before Christmas…

Then I need to decorate the tree….the Hubs did the lights a few days ago…but my knees were acting up from the cold, so didn’t want to head into the basement to get the ornaments…

When we bought the tree last weekend, I also bought some new ornaments…
I love the little pressies ones..
Also got a sheep
And the SIL hates cardinals, but we buy her them when we see a good one…
These are bristly, made out of some kind of wood fiber…
I have put out a few of my Santas…

And brought up my bag of Santa head ornaments…
I loves me some Santas!

There is a Planet of the Apes marathon starting at noon, think I'll decorate the tree then....

Wow…look at that…FO’s!

2011-12-16T06:07:00.001-05:00

Tunisian squares – very addicting..made from Peaches and Crème…so going to be washcloths..

Wee baby turtles…I love these!

Stocking, an orange and some nuts…

Yep, these were all Nerd Wars challenge projects….

And I showed you Wil-key, but last month I made him a banana…

And with the left over bits from the vegan yarn, I made myself a watch…

That’s it for now……If you’d like to see more FO’s, hop on over to

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

It’s been a couple of weeks….

Sorry for the horrendous picture, it’s 9:30 at night here…

I have 3 works in progress…

The blue circle is a circle ghan for my father-in-law. I had another started, but it kept turning into a bowl, so I changed patterns..

The green blob is a sock…it’s a bad sock…filled with lots and lots of mistakes, but it’s almost done….

the tiny pink thing is what I’m hoping will be a Tunisian scarf…I’m loving this technique and the cool fabric it creates, but it rolls like crazy!!!!

Since I finished The Hunger Games Trilogy…I’m taking a break from fiction reading, so I’ve been browsing pattern books…I just got the Steven West one yesterday…Love the Coastal Knits….and the Master Class book is proving very interesting….

Falling Down Hard....

2011-12-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

So yeah....ummmm, yeah I took a trip to the local yarn shop today...New England Yarn and Spindle....and yeah, I came home with the
Stephen West pattern book I ordered,
sock blockers,
2 new Tunisian hooks (loving this technique and they were only .99)
and ummm, oh yeah three skeins of yarn...

BUT, but they are for Christmas gifties....see I bought some patterns...and I needed lime yarn (there is a reason) and I had it in sock weight, but uhmmm, the designer advised me to use worsted weight...so yeah...I had to go buy some....

And that's my story....

Cornwall Yarn Shop

2011-12-12T06:15:00.000-05:00

This summer I did several day trips to yarn stores. Since I had done a couple in Massachusetts and in Rhode Island, I decided to head to New York.

One of the stores I visited was the charming Cornwall Yarn Shop on Main Street in Cornwall, NY. It is housed in an older house. The shop is two floors. The top floor has a room with buttons and embroidery supplies. The first floor is filled with yarn!

There are lots of store samples. The back room was filled with knitters just sitting and knitting and chatting. If I lived closer, I would definitely frequent this store.

Gail, the owner, was really nice and excited about me blogging....sorry it happened so late, Gail...

I bought some pretties there...It's a new cotton yarn made in the US....so soft.....it's Florafil by Textured Yarn Company

If you are going to be near Cornwall, New York...I recommend a shopping stop to the Cornwall Yarn Shop.

Stash Sunday!

2011-12-11T09:51:00.002-05:00

What's new in the stash this week?

I have been trying to be a good girl, as I have a lot of yarn....so I am trying NOT to buy again until April when the Connecticut Sheep and Wool takes place...The Hubs will probably get me something for Christmas, he usually does....but until then, I am still a member of some yarn clubs. I did buy a sock kit, which should be in any day...but yesterday I received my latest from Random Fandom from Nerd Girl Yarns.

It is "Because Bread Makes You Fat" from Scott Pilgrim vs the World, which I've never seen...but it's sparkly!

Not sure what I'll make with it...maybe something for the Winggirl....

ETA: I just went yarn shopping...bad me....

Where Was I This Week?

2011-12-10T15:01:00.000-05:00

Maybe this will answer the question...

Simply fabulous! The only series I can compare it to is Harry Potter. It was un-put-downable! I read Hunger Games a couple of weeks ago, when I took a copy from the school library. The sequels were not in....then she only got one copy of each....on Tuesday, a student brought in Catching Fire and I was able to read the first 2 chapters....and then he wanted it back...so I went and bought it after school and read for 6 hours.....then on Thursday I went and got the third book and the first, so I had a copy...finished the second on Thursday and immediately started the third.....(there is no time between the 2 and 3rd book storylines) The Hubs said I should wait and "absorb" the story...yeah, right!

Finished the third this morning....so good...just so good....

I'm gonna get the first of her other series and see if that is any good too....and I can't wait for the movie in March....

Now I think maybe I should do some cleaning...but more than likely...I'm not going to, but the thought is there...

The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical

2011-12-04T14:46:00.001-05:00

I just watched this documentary and it is one of the saddest things I’ve ever watched…why? Because they focus on these children and these children, who have nothing, but dreams, begin to feel as if this will change their lives …and the sad fact is that it won’t.

It’s a good movie, in that it has some very touching moments…the little girls giggling over the flushing toilet….and the main child, Ashish has such positive energy. But underneath it all, is such sadness….and maybe, because I work with children living in poverty, I felt the letdown coming….I was hoping there would be an addendum on the end that gave us good news about these children…but no, it didn’t happen…

This is how I felt about “Slumdog Millionaire” What a fabulous movie! But to use those children from the slums and then return them to the slums is just criminal…and I know that reports have gone back and forth about money given to the parents, etc….but the children don’t understand…they think that their lives have changed…but when the movies are done…the adults walk away…how can someone in good conscious do that to a child?

I did some research and there is now a foundation set up to help the students in this movie further their education. I will be donating…I hope some of you do too…You can go here to donate.

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Over

2011-11-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry, just don't feel like it today...I've been kinda run down with the stuffies, coughing and sneezing...I also finished my last Nerd Wars project and posted it yesterday...

so even though I have many WIP's, the only thing I've worked on is a boring sock....which when I have the time will have to show and explain, because there is an issue with it....

so along with the stuffies I am just tired all the time!

And I'm not really reading anything at the moment, unless you count the two US magazines I read last night....just kind flipping through things...

So that's it from me today...no linky...but I'll go visit everybody else when I get home...need to make sure I get to work early...parking is prime right now...

Rainy Grey Days

2011-11-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

When it's a rainy day, I spend the day doing this...

It started early this morning and continues...AND I took a nap for about an hour when I got home...so I think I need to go to bed....hmmm should I try to start tomorrow's WIP post?

Hoarders

2011-11-28T22:22:00.001-05:00

Another zinger from Matt Paxton: “We took out 8000 pounds of poop. That’s a lot of poop.” Said so seriously! It cracked me up!

Yes, I watch Hoarders, just finished tonight’s episode, which was really gross and filled with poop, dead cats and black mold….

But I enjoy watching it…see I know I have hoarding tendencies (have you seen the stash? and the books? and the clothes? and the…well anyway…)

I will NEVER let it get to that point and that is one reason I do watch Hoarders…and oh yeah I helped clean out an aunt’s house. She is a hoarder. Literally there were paths to each room and towers of things..it was my first realization that this issue does exist in my family. She moved into a nice clean house…I hear it is back to the way the old place was when she moved…

Packrats, that’s what we are called before it becomes an issue. …and really I picked a bad profession, as teachers have tons of STUFF….

But Matt Paxton, he has some zingers…and I just discovered he has a podcast..which can be crude, but also funny….I read a review of Matt awhile back and I agree with it…

Stash Sunday 3

2011-11-27T14:13:00.001-05:00

Today was a “try to organize the stash” day again. I had bought three new tubs…here they are:

The top tub has yarn that is destined for a specific project….the middle tub is my Lorna’s Laces and some Malabrigo, and the bottom tub is my Yarn Club’s stash….yeah I added three new tubs….I really need to work from the stash for awhile…

I also dug out my basket…

It actually has projects in project bags with the patterns…these are projects that have NOT been started yet…It had gotten kinda buried, so now it is out and in the open…

Now I need to work on some squares, as that is the last challenge for me this month in Nerd Wars….

If anyone is interested to join me in Stash Sundays, let me know and I’ll do a linky thing….

Feeling Special?

2011-11-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

So yesterday I received this in the mail…

I won a skein of yarn from Moose Manor Hand Paints. But what’s so neat about it is that it is a colorway for me….I told her what I liked and this is my colorway! It even says so on the back..”Custom Colorway for T.” What’s also neat is she will be the new main dyer for Tsarina Tsocks…
It’s also got a bit of sparkle to it, with a bit of metallic running through…

I love it! First thing I said upon opening it was, “I likey!”
The day before I received my last shipment for “Who’s Your Doctor” from Nerd Girl Yarns. I missed signups for the next round…

It is “Screwdriver, a Sonic One and Other Stuff.” It’s also mainly green, the best color evah!
Although I have tried yarn diets before…I am going to try and not buy until the CT Sheep and Wool in April, EXCEPT for the online clubs I belong to….I figure I really need to create from the stash, as it is slowly eating up the real estate in my apartment and my apartment is small…..AND I’ve been on a finish the WIP kick and have finished up several projects this month…yeah me!

Friday FO’s!

2011-11-25T10:54:00.001-05:00

I finished it last night! Finally! It seemed like it was the never-ending ball of yarn!

I think I like it as a hood. There is too much drape as a cowl..

It is so soft, but not sure about warmth…so we’ll see how much use it gets. But I love the color and can wear it with just about anything…

Also last night I finished a hat for a former student. Last year I had the crazy idea to make hats for my students…I had 52…I made 6 (I think) and noone was wearing them, so I stopped making them. But I had one student who really wanted one. I had started it, but never finished it…so here is H’s hat.

As always check out the other FO/Fiber Friday links…

Tami’s Amis, Wisdom Begins in Wonder, and Natural Suburbia

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:19:00.001-05:00

Growing up Thanksgiving was always going to my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill's in Brooklyn. We'd all pile in the car very early, arguing over who is sitting where and head out. We'd get to their house and wake them up. Aunt Kathy would make breakfast for everyone. Then we would head out to Manhatten for the parade. It was always cold....

After the parade, we'd go back to Brooklyn and hang out. The kids would watch tv or play with our cousins, Debby and Tracy. Bill Jr was always much older and didn't really play with us.

Then we'd eat, visit some more and head home....That is always what Thanksgiving is to me....

Once we were in high school, my brother and I asked if we could stay home, so that we could go to the annual Turkey Day game against the rival high school.... and we didn't go to Aunt Kathy's again. She now lives in Florida and I miss those times...

Happy Thanksgiving!

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-11-23T05:57:00.003-05:00

(sorry crappy shot..it's 5:45 am here and raining! I wasn't going to post one today, but started reading some and decided to post, even though you have seen this previously)

The silk cowl is almost finished. I have that little ball left. Since I am just following a basic rolled cowl pattern, not sure when to stop to bind of....I also think the cowl will lay more in layers than in a "roll," but we will see when it is done. Hopefully will finish tonight....

The book is really good...Ms. Priest led an amazing and very full life! I'm glad I met her before she passed away last year....

As always for other WIP's and book talk, go to Yarn Along or Tami's Amis

The Reflex

2011-11-21T18:07:00.001-05:00

was my favorite Duran Duran song, what about you?

One of our vocabulary words was record….kids weren’t sure, so I brought in my Duran Duran Arena album…they wanted to hear it…I went and bought this…

and listened to it on the way home (no I don’t have an mp3 player or an ipod or anything else I can download to, besides my computer…I still like discs, compact and video…damn it!)

So they will hear it tomorrow and then I may have them write a compare/contrast pieces on my music vs their music…what do you think? And I get to listen to some more Duran Duran…

How about some? (Can’t find the “official” Reflex video, so here’s another favorite)

LYS–Madison Wool

2011-11-21T06:13:00.002-05:00

Madison Wool underwent a change of ownership back in June…..and now it is a fun, funky shop with a lot of new and interesting yarns….(I enjoyed my first trip there, too, I blogged here about it, but there is definitely a different vibe)
Dayna, the new owner is also known as The Crafty Scientist and spins up some fun yarn. I recently used a skein of her yarn for my friend’s baby hat.

Today I headed back down there to pick up a copy of Coastal Knits…It’s about an hour away from me, but it’s a nice drive with a great end point.
Here are some new yarns that Dayna has spun….
I love how she presents the yarn in her store….it’s not a huge store, but it is chock full of stuff….but you don’t feel claustrophobic, as there is plenty of room to move around and discover all the little treasures…
Needle felting kits and supplies
Mocha’s Fibers, a local farm (with some great yarn!)
More local, indie yarn
Lots of Manos (who doesn’t love Manos?) and other well known yarns…
This is a cowl made from Misti Alpaca, which I really, really, REALLY wanted, but did not buy, as I am going to try and craft from the stash….But Dayna was nice enough to give me the pattern, so I may use it on the Misti Alpaca, I already own!
I love how it is displayed, in baskets and boxes and drawers…
There is so much to discover, you really need to take a trip for yourself….(Psst – there’s Habu on those shelves!) Plus it’s a quick hop, skip and a jump from I95, so if you’re traveling through CT on I95……

I’m really looking forward to the time when I can join them for a Stitch and Beach, sounds like a blast!

Stash Sunday

2011-11-20T16:20:00.001-05:00

Today's dive into the stash is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Silk...it's the one in yesterday's craptastic WIP shot (as it was getting dark)

I've only gotten a little farther on the project. But I did use it for this project:

The silver on my Stargate hat is made with this yarn....so now I have both crocheted and knitted with this yarn. I picked it up because of the color, as I wanted something silver to represent the Stargate.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts is famously known for Socks that Rock (which I also have several of) but I must say this silk is just G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!!! It's gorgeous feeling and it's gorgeous to work with...no splitting in either crochet or knitting....no frazzly bits escaping and going up your nose to make you sneeze.....

It is a 2-ply hand dyed 100% silk....you get about 360 yards of it (the website says 218, but my ball band says 360..hmmm)....The color I am using is called "Manly yes, but I like it too!"

The stitch definition is really nice. The only thing I am concerned is the long -lasting wear and tear on it, as it is silk. But if I take good care, as we all should take care of our handknits, I think it will be fine...

See - Told You!

2011-11-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

It would turn into something!

It's not quite there yet.....but I chose to knit it, instead of crocheting...since I just finished my last big knit project....and I love this yarn!

Dipped Infinity Scarf

2011-11-18T06:53:00.001-05:00

I finally finished the Dipped Infinity Scarf by Laura Chau. I love the gradience of it. It was a kit that I bought from Dirty Water Dyeworks, after seeing it a couple of times.

The sun is just coming up, so the pictures are a little on the dark side.

This was my biggest knit so far…the pattern was easy, once I got used to it…but my tension was all over the place…

I started it in June as my dissertation for Nerd Wars and finished it last night. I am happy with it…

For more, head over to

Finished!

2011-11-17T22:45:00.001-05:00

I finished my Dipped Infinity Scarf...will try to get pics in the am. but it needs to be blocked....whew...longest knitting project so far!

And really finishing in crochet is so much easier than the whole binding off thing in knitting!

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Over

2011-11-16T06:57:00.001-05:00

Since it is the final week to turn in grades, what I’m reading this week is lots and lots of student work!

And I have not time to work on any projects, BUT I can think about projects…that ball of grey is Blue Moon Fiber’s Luscious Silk and it will become something this weekend…..

Head on over to Tami’s Amis and Yarn Over for more books and projects

New England Fiber Festival

2011-11-15T18:25:00.001-05:00

So in the midst of my powerless week, I drove up to Springfield, Mass to attend the second annual New England Fiber Festival.

I had mentioned I was going and wish I had gotten a room to spend the weekend. The hotels were all booked because of the power outage. But luckily, Meg offered me the pull down couch in her room. Yeah! So I joined a bunch of strangers for the weekend….and I was warm, and I ate, and I laughed and I crocheted, and I knitted and I made some friends! They are an awesome bunch of people!!

This is Kermit and a friend. She shares a blog with her sister.

There was LOTS of junk food! I love Swedish Fish!

I met up with my friend, Laura and her Hubs and daughter on Saturday and walked around the festival.

Madcolor was there in her awesomely AWESOME granny square dress!

She was also with the group at the hotel. It was great seeing her again. The women has so much ENERGY!!!

See this yarn? It’s Kama Suutra. I walked away from this last year and thought about it a lot, so had to buy a skein this year….

A friend, Karen’s alpacas…they were hungry and I couldn’t get a good shot of them…I think this is Paco and Vegas. I wrote their names down, but damn if I can find it!

Some alpacas were planking

It had a heavy chain around it’s neck, I wonder if that was why?

Some spinning demonstrations..

Look at this! It was so freaking gorgeous! It is…

Fun animals! I think this was the one with the really awesome owls…I meant to buy one, but forgot to go back..

Look at the Llama chair! Pretty cool! Such a great day and such an awesome weekend! Then my month went steadily downhill from there!

Nothing to see

2011-11-14T20:03:00.000-05:00

I have nothing to post today...or nothing I can think of....so maybe just a little LOLcats

And

The Winggirl and I were just saying that when we headed out to go shopping. She kept turning her seat warmer up....A warm tushy is so very nice!

Stash Sunday

2011-11-13T09:32:00.001-05:00

I think on Sundays, I’m going to feature a particular yarn…

Today’s Stash Sunday feature is Rowan Colourspun.

Colourspun is a new yarn introduced by Rowan. They describe it as

“Colourspun is a lovely wool and mohair blended yarn which is sublime to knit. Each shade is produced by blending two printed and two solid colours together and then twisted with a printed binder.”

It is 72% Wool, 14% Mohair and 14% Polyamide and about 148 yds (135m)

I first saw it on the cover of the WEBS catalog and was instantly in love. I purchased 2 balls at Stitches East to try out. One I am giving away, but the second I used to make a hat.

Look at those subtle colour changes (since it’s a British yarn, I’ll use the British spelling!) It’s called Hubberholme. It is not itchy, although it has wool and mohair.

It was very easy to crochet, but occasionally I ran into “splittiness” because of the mohair. It would wrap around the hook at times, and I’d have to redo the stitch…

I currently have the pattern book on order and I’m going to try my hand at these mittens. Not sure I’ll do the colourwork section, as that is still kinda scary for me (in knitting)…But that was the picture that made me fall in love with this yarn…

I have enough left of the ball to make cuffs for some fingerless gloves.

Winner, Winner...

2011-11-12T22:43:00.003-05:00

I finally ran the random number thingy and Anastacia Knits has won the assortment of gifties...Congratulations!

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T08:20:00.000-05:00

Second post today to honor Veterans. I am proud to say that my family has veterans that have fought in most major wars back to the Spanish-American war. I also believe, except for the Air Force, we have represented all branches of the military...

FO Friday! Woo-eee....

2011-11-11T08:08:00.001-05:00

This is a cap that I made a friend for her baby girl-to-be. She will appreciate the funkiness of it! The yarn is a vegan from The Crafty Scientist who also now owns Madison Wool. It is made of nylon faux cashmere and is unbelievably soft! I had a bit left over so played with it..it's not done, as I need to add something to it, so next week.

This is the Hubs blanket/afghan. I started it back in 2009. There is a reason I don't make too many of these. It was made with I Love This Yarn acrylic. I really like this acrylic yarn. It is very soft and easy to work with, only I have to order it online, as it is sold at Hobby Lobby and there are none near me.

And lastly, a new pair of fingerless gloves. I love fingerless gloves and have made a bunch of them. I just make up the pattern as I go, and I fit them to my hands as I go, so they really are custom made. The yarn is a mystery yarn I received in a swap. I believe it is Patons Kroy sock yarn, there's a bit of a stretch. I love the striping patten and they almost exactly striped the same way!

Head over to Tami's Amis for more FO Friday

And the HITS keep coming...literally

2011-11-10T21:45:00.000-05:00

I said it had to get better, right?.....yeah...wrong....

1. Repair guys never showed up yesterday....got to try and reschedule for a Saturday now....

2. And the kicker.....on the way to Aunt Irene's wake, I got rear-ended....the car looks okay...have to check tomorrow...car is black, it was dark and raining....but my neck and shoulders hurt a bit....

I sound like a Drama Llama...really I just want to go to bed, pull the covers over my head and wait for November to end...how many days in this frickin' month?

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-11-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

These two projects will possibly be FO's by Friday. The blue afghan is for the Hubs and I'm so glad it is almost done...I am bordering it at the moment. The Infinity Scarf has been featured here several times....I have 1.5 colors left to do..so again almost done...

I finished Sheepish and On A Highland Shore. Loved Sheepish, really want to get her first book: Hit By A Farm.....On A Highland Shore was also very good and I would like to read the next book, not sure if it is a series or just a sequel....

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton has been on my bookshelf for awhile. I read her The Lost Garden. It was one of the best books I read last year and I immediately went out and bought this book...then I got caught up the George RR Martin frenzy and put all other books aside....Although I have not finished the last Martin book, I figure there is no rush...it'll be years before the next is out...so onto other authors...and I saw another of her books the other day and almost purchased it, but figured I should read this one first...

As always head on over to Tami's Ami's for more WIP's, again I cannot link to the Yarn Over meme, but it is in my previous Wednesday posts...

So far, November SUCKS the Big One!

2011-11-08T14:18:00.000-05:00

So here's the scoopage...

1. Freak Snowstorm takes out power for a week....(7 days, not a work week)

2. Go to hang out at hotel in Mass with some knitters and hookers, only good thing so far this month (but it was a DOOZY!)

3. Get to work yesterday and get the phone call from my mom about my aunt...go home and wait for updates on what's happening...

4. While waiting, watch some tv, cuz hey it's been a week (except for the weekend at the hotel)....cable goes out..WHAT THE HELL!!!

5. Go outside and cable wire is hanging in the street....neighbor informs me truck ripped the wires down on the way down the hill.....they were low because of the storm (DAMN STORM!)

6. Call cable company (which is also home phone and internet) and it'll be a couple of days, as they are still fixing all the other downed wires from storm...big sigh!

7. Hubs informs me that fridge is not working right since power came on (honestly, I don't pay much attention to what goes on in the kitchen)

8. Repair guy comes to check (and hike up his falling down pants) It's the compressor....(awesome - sarcastically muttered) Probably blew with power surge when power come on, but can't prove it (it was working fine before the storm!)

9. On netbook, until cable is returned...netbook is fine, but loads picture reeeaaallly
sloooooowwwlllyyy....so few pictures for blog.....AND the security doesn't let me visit all my blogs (FRUSTRATION!!!) Do I turn it off???

So if I haven't visited your blog or commented in awhile these many reasons are why......

I have finished a couple of projects during this time, almost completed a few more and started some new ones....

But it can only get better, right? Right?

Aunt Irene

2011-11-07T11:55:00.001-05:00

This is a picture from my Mom’s wedding in 2005. My Mom is in the yellow and her older sister, Irene is in the blue. My Aunt Irene passed away last night. She had just turned 72 in October. She was my mom’s best friend. They looked alike and they sounded alike and they were very alike in personality.

My aunt Irene was widowed and she leaves 5 children: Debbie, Donna, Butch, Scott and Dawn and many grandchildren. She will be missed.

Hanging Out!

2011-11-05T20:44:00.000-04:00

I am sitting in the hotel lobby surrounded by knitters and a few hookers....lots of yarn, lots of junk food, lots of laughter and having a good time.....

Still no power at home...but the inlaws got theirs back today.....

I was pretty restrained at the Fiber Festival and only bought a few skeins...will post pictures once I get home, as loading pictures takes FOREVER!!!!!!!!

FO Friday

2011-11-04T17:57:00.001-04:00

The Kathy Merrick Chain Lace Big Fat Scarf....I can't express how much I LOVE this! It is made with 8 skeins of Kiogu KPPPM. Oh that stuff is lovely!!!!

The fingerless gloves I started on Saturday at Stitches. It was hard to stand there with all that yarn and not start something! They are made with Rowan Renew and just so warm and comfortable!

I am away for the weekend, although the Hubs is home...I was overjoyed when I walked into the hotel room and it is warm and has a working TV. This is the longest I've ever gone without TV! I went a few days a couple years ago when I stayed with my friend Krystal and her family, as they didn't have a tv...

Watch for the upcoming yarny purchases!
To check out other FO posts, head to Tami's Amis

Last Festival

2011-11-03T18:51:00.000-04:00

So, uhm, yeah going to another yarny event this weekend...this one is only two years old and held in Springfield, Mass...Luckily they have gotten their power back (not so here yet)...This is the last one until the CT one in April....and I just looked at the vendor list and I am so thrilled that my soap people are going to be there....we are all out....and the vendor that I regret not getting a certain skein from at Rhinebeck will be there....and the vendor I custom ordered some yarn from....and.......

and I got my Random Fandom skein in today...White Witch from Narnia....I be swimming in yarn!

No pics as they are HUGE!!!! Gotta fix that when I get power back and can be on my trusty desktop....the netbook is all good and well, but it is limited....already thinking about what I will replace it with....

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-11-02T10:23:00.001-04:00

Sorry so big, just realized it was Wednesday and while I am sitting at the library charging things up...I have a book I started last night and two projects with me, so I might has well WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along...not sure I'll be able to link to them both as my online security for the netbook doesn't let me visit all my blogs...

So the book is On A Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens and I just started it last night. It's not a regular "bodice-ripper" I think it might have more substance. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good "bodice-ripper," especially set in Scotland.

The projects are both the same....fingerless gloves...one set for me, the bottom set from gifted yarn. I like the colors. The other set is for someone who reads this blog on occasion and might guess they are for her......

If you'd like to see more, head to Tami's Amis, sorry Small Things is blocked, but it's on last Wednesday's post...

Blogger Not Letting Me Upload Pics

2011-11-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

So will have to wait longer for pics of storm...back at library...top of my street and bottom of my street have power....middle of my street (where I live) not so much....gonna stop home to check once charging is done (at 71% now). Then head out to Barnes and Noble...too cold to stay home....

Today......

2011-10-31T19:39:00.000-04:00

I spent several hours at the library, charging things up and working on my last Nerd Wars project...It is about a mile away, I had to walk, no vehicle....so I'm charged up..no school tomorrow again, so I'll probably be back at the library...although now I have my car....my upstairs neighbor broke into the garage...

We Have a Delay

2011-10-30T21:43:00.000-04:00

So in 20+ years of living here, we have lost power (28 hours and counting)....I am on my netbook, which is rapidly losing power...over 80% of our town is without power, over 800,000 people in our state...

The Hubs coming home in whiteout conditions said that this snowstorm beats Hurricane Irene's A$$!!! He didn't recognize roads he grew up driving on...

So blogiversary prize will be chosen once I get up and running again...and yes I have pictures of the storm I will share....

Really? Snow Already!

2011-10-29T16:34:00.001-04:00

Last year was a bad winter…we had 7 snow days and school went until almost July…crazy…this year we already have to make up a day because of a hurricane….(luckily the earthquake happened in the middle of the summer)

So today this started

This was about 1:15…

The snow had been going for about an hour when I shot the first video.

I just shot this about 3 hours later…it’s still going strong…

About 4:20…

I’m not feeling well with a sore throat, nasty cough, etc…So snuggled up with tv (Dr. Who and now Stargate Atlantis) and my last Nerd Wars project, the Kathy Merrick Chain Lace Big Fat Scarf.

What’s Today? You Ask….

2011-10-27T16:15:00.001-04:00

Why it’s my 4 year BLOGIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!

Do I have a giveaway? You ask….

Of course! Those who have been readers for awhile know that I love giveaways!

Do I have to do anything? You ask….

Just leave a comment with a way to contact you…and maybe some chocolate for bribery…..

Well what is it!? You ask…because you know I am the Guardian of Yarn….

Well it is a little bit different and somewhat goofy this time around….

What did I tell you? I made this fun pumpkin with googly eyes from FreshStitches and he is a free pattern…..

I made him with Lamb’s Pride Bulky yarn. The yarn and the safety eyes were bought at Stitches…..so you get Googly-Eyed Pumpkin

Is that it? You ask….

Pushy!!!! Of course not!

How about this? Oh wait, he’s not mine to give….He was just a pretty picture I stopped on when looking for this…

A fun tin, a funner pin and a pretty hand-made glass button…all bought at Stitches….

What? Wait! No Yarn? you yell….because you know I am now the Guardian of Yarn (it’s a big job and someone has to do it…..)

Okay, Greedy much? I forgot to buy something at Rhinebeck, where I intended to purchase yarn for this…I did purchase a Rhinebeck pin and when I find what the heck I did with it, it will also be included in the package….

But I did purchase some yarn at Stitches I’ve been lusting after since first seeing it….

How GORGEOUS is this yarn! It’s the new Rowan Colorspun….It’s okay I have another skein in a different color and plan on order many more, along with the pattern book (I bought it to try)….It’s 50g..148 yds (135m) So it’s not a ton, but enough to play with and make something small and fun!!!!!!

And you never know…I could stick something in that tin….

Hope you enjoy my BLOGIVERSARY!!!!!!! (small print….giveaway will end at 12:00 pm EST on Sunday Oct 30…I’ll random generate then…and I just killed a spider crawling across my keyboard)

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

2011-10-26T06:56:00.001-04:00

The book I picked up at Stitches East….where I met Lisa Souza. The book is great, not only does it have fantastic patterns, it has stories to go along with the patterns….

And no, I have not finished any of the books from last week’s post or the previous weeks….

The project is my Chain Lace Big Fat Scarf. I am on the 5th color…it calls for nine colors…I have eight wound up and ready to go…I’m going to work on it until Sunday…but I have to finish it by Monday to include it in Nerd Wars…

As always, if you want to see more projects, head over to

Stitches 2011–1st Edition

2011-10-23T17:31:00.001-04:00

An exhausting weekend! I helped out Mary in her booth for The New England Yarn and Spindle, which is my local yarn store.

It was a lot of fun and I met lots of people, but it was exhausting!

Some new vendors I discovered: Forbidden (she has nerd yarn!)

and had in her shop some great box bags by JessaLu…I got a Dr. Who bag!

We Got The Buttons where I bought 3 buttons, a hair clip and a Christmas pin

And Miss Purl, where I got a couple of tins and a couple of buttons

These 2 are mine (the one in the pic above is for someone else)

Also in the picture above are some hand painted safety eyes that I found at Debra’s Garden

Seabury Organizers had some great spiral organizers, but I was looking for something to keep my wooden hooks in and one of my hooks is longer than average, so I bought this bag..

Also in the picture are two of my new crochet hooks. One is made of abalone and one is made of bone. Not sure I’ll use them, but they were pretty! I got the hooks, along with those two Rowan skeins from Yarn Barn in Kansas. I love this yarn and have been lusting after it. I bought a couple skeins to try, but I’m going to have Mary order the pattern book and more yarn for me.

The green skein in the picture above is from String Theory, which is not new to me, but the yarn is too luscious to pass up! I think it’s going to become my Multnomah, which has been waiting for the perfect yarn!

The purpley skein is from Decadent Fibers and I had to get it because of this Savory Socks pattern.

That’s it for today…stay tuned for the res, because of course there is more….

Shades of Grey or Gray

2011-10-22T05:33:00.002-04:00

The other day, we read the word grey in a story at school…one of my brightest students asked me what it was….so then we had a mini-lesson on the different spellings of words depending on what country you might be in…

I wandered by gray country at Rhinebeck…truly I did not know there were this many shades of grey…it was amazing….

This were all on sale from Tess’ Designer Yarns. She seemed to be doing a pretty brisk business…and I thought about purchasing a skein or two….they felt really nice….but three things stopped me…

1. No prices listed, you had to ask a sales rep and they read it from a sheet…(I hate that!)

2. There was a bit of a line…I was all for avoiding lines at all costs…

3. I got distracted by the disco ball, when I turned around….this meant I was by Red Maple Sportswear, which was Rhinebeck Bingo Headquarters and the makers of these:

My husband has declared them the best socks ever (I bought him a pair last year)…and I treated myself to the stripy ones, which I am wearing right now….

I wore gray though out my sophomore year of high school…I really like the color grey….but ya’ know shiny things, they do distract….

And when I saw all this grey/gray, it made me think of mooncalfmakeswho has admired a grey skein or two..

What’cha Complete This Week?

2011-10-21T07:11:00.002-04:00

I was busy on Sunday…I completed 3 things…yep…3 – all for Nerd Wars

The SG1 patch that is worn on their uniform…First time I have crocheted using embroidery thread….it wasn’t that tough..even though I had to use a leetle, bitty hook….

See here? This is where it goes….but someone was asleep in costuming that day…did you spot the mistake?

This? This is a Goa’uld symbiote. They are pretty nasty and burrow into the back of the neck and take over a person’s body….they look like this

And the burrowing part is not fun…

Then I made a hat for Teal’c. He’s got a gold tattoo on his forehead that he hides a lot….especially when on Earth…or tries to…

Look Teal’c in a Stetson, before they were cool!

So I made him a hat….

I know I make a lot of hats….look another one I completed tonight!

Adapted from this hat. I’m wearing it at Stitches tomorrow. I wanted to crochet something out of yarn she sells…as she has some knitted samples, but not many crocheted ones….So if you’re coming to Stitches…I’ll be sporting this hat…It’s very warm, made out of Mirasol Miski….

And if you want to see more head over to

and I also linked to Fiber Arts Friday

Rhinebeck 2011–Everything Else!

2011-10-20T05:55:00.001-04:00

Rhinebeck Bingo! After charging through the first couple of buildings and just focusing on the yarn…I decided I need to look for Rav people for Rhinebeck Bingo!

Stitchy McYarnpants organizes it every year and it’s a blast to play! And I ran into my first square!

This is knitterotica. I must say, she just looks like a blast to know!

Men in kilts, I saw a few…

A great granny square coat..

A bit of fall color!

Knitted manatees and this is the booth I bought my cool acorn earrings…

Lines at The Sanguine Gryphon, which I decided not to wait in….

Goats

Llamas, my first Appaloosa Llama…I didn’t take any pics of the alpacas….

Vegetables for sale next to yarn…

Rav meetup

This is the group I sometimes join on Thursdays….they made very cool sparkly hats…Nutmeg Knitter and Wife”Mom” Knitter are part of this group. I got to meet Nutmeg’s little nutmeg…

Also at the meetup, I ran into the group I met at the hotel last year. They actually came up and said hi and remembered me. I’m always surprised when people remember me…So I saw Gingy and PeonyUnderhill, and Abby.

2 very cool things happened….one, I met Vanessa

She traveled from Australia…very cool! We hung out for a bit and she got to meet Jess and Casey…yes I said hi too…

Two years ago I met Ann from Norway. Love how Rav, has brought people from all over together….

I also won a hat! StevenA was on my Bingo card and he said on his blog the first person to ask would receive a hat….So I saw him at the meetup and noone had asked yet, so yeah I won a hat! It’s cool, cuz it’s not a color I would pick, but will look good with jeans…

and then the Jack O’Lanterns

Now I am gearing up for Stitches East…they don’t “allow” pictures….but people take them…I’ll be working in booth 719…I’ll be there all day Friday, sporadically on Saturday and maybe Sunday…so if you are around, stop by and say “Howdy!”

Rhinebeck 2011 Shopping!

2011-10-19T18:49:00.002-04:00

This year I only went on Saturday. Some day I’d love to stay in a house with friends, but I really don’t know anyone else around me who’d be interested in going…but that just sounds like so much more fun!

This year was my favorite, so far!

I got in early and it was not very crowded..

This was waiting in line for the gates to open and I noticed this skirt on two different people…I later saw it on a few other people, including Gingy, whom I met last year. I found out it is the Lanesplitter. It’s a free pattern and I think I might have to try it…I was truly taken with it….

I wandered around for a bit, heading into the A, B, C, D buildings first….That’s where I met Catherine Friend. I commenced the shopping…

Into The Whirled I bought one skein of 3 ply superwash called Trajectory. I wonder if they are going to be at Stitches, because I wish I had bought the Vampires of Venice yarn. I keep thinking about it…

Bitsy Knits Fiber Arts. I bought the pink I was looking for and a sale yarn, Bitsy’s Sock in Love of Art.

Moving on to The Fold, where I got some Socks that Rock. A Rare Gems and Plankton Ooze..

I hadn’t even gotten to the barns yet! I noted two more booths that I wanted to revisit…then headed to the barns…

At this booth, I bought some sock yarn…

Each skein is spun exactly the same, so the two socks will come out the same…

This was Maple Creek Farm, where I bought one of those end skeins on the left….my black with shots of color…

Then I headed back to the first buildings and bought some Fiber Optic

And some really cool black and orange yarn from Blue Ridge Yarns. This is a picture of her red, white and blue yarn…very cool!

Then I headed to Miss Babs, where I got some Yummy and Windsor yarns…one called “Witch’s Brew.”

All in all, pretty refrained for me….12 skeins in all (counting the 2 sock as 1)

Yarn Along and WIP Wednesday

2011-10-19T06:17:00.001-04:00

or my version of Rhinebeck Reads!

On Saturday I met Catherine Friend at Rhinebeck.

She wrote Sheepish. I’ve been wanting to read her book, Hit by a Farm, but have not ordered it from Amazon yet. I was very excited to meet her. I read her blog Farm Tales. The book is very funny and I am about 1/2 way through it.

Two years ago I met Anne Barclay Priest at Rhinebeck and bought her book, Trafficking in Sheep, which I have not finished. But reading Sheepish makes me want to pick it back up. She was not there this year, (but was last year), so I just went looking for her and she passed away last November. So last year was her last Rhinebeck. I’m privileged to have met her and have a signed copy of her book. If you’d like to read about this wonderful woman, here is an editorial about her.

The Yarn Harlot was there too. I could have been 12th in line, but decided I wanted to go shopping more than wait for her…it was almost a two hour wait. They were giving out numbers, but I figured I’d probably not come back.

The project is a quick hat I am crocheting for Stitches. I will be working in a booth on Friday. She has several knitted items, but not too many crocheted. I am making it from Mirasol Miski in Bluebell. It is a free pattern from here.

As always if you want to see me, please head to

Rhinebeck Sneak Peek

2011-10-16T22:47:00.001-04:00

I need to do a longer post, but yesterday was too exhausted when I got home….today? I sat on my bum and finished 3, yes 3 projects for Nerd Wars….I was Speedy Gonzalez today! I also watched some Doctor Who (10) The last season, because I love him and Donna together…and the season premier of The Walking Dead….now it is bedtime…

Yarn P0rn…

Rhinebeck Plans!

2011-10-14T20:22:00.001-04:00

Well those of you that have read more for awhile know that I love to purchase yarn…I just purchase it…I rarely use it…but here is my plan for Rhinebeck…

Yarn:

1. Black with shots of color, muted, not separate colors..kinda hard to describe

2. Pink yarn for a gift

3. Dirty Water Dye Works…I bought the Dipped Infinity Scarf kit and I want more of one of the colors…

4. Stop at RedMaple Sportswear for Bingo fun and to buy the Hubs socks…(he’s not getting kettle corn, he was by Webs today and teased me with a photo, but didn’t go in and buy anything! Bad Hubs!)

5. Try to catch as many Bingo squares as possible….

6. Buy gifts for my blogiversary in a few weeks!

7. Yes my 4th blogiversary is coming up and it’ll be giveaway time!!!!

8. Catch sight of the Yarn Harlot…I doubt I’ll wait in line, but I’d like to catch sight of this knitting dynamo….

9. Get Catherine Friend’s new book….I’m kinda hoping she has Hit By A Farm too, as I want to read that!

10. Maybe catch a glimpse of baby Ravelry, as I am sure she will be surrounded!

11. Take lots of pictures and have tons of fun!

Maybe I’ll see you there…if you are stalking for Bingo purposes…I think I will be wearing a red vest, hair in braid, jeans, not sure about a hat, thin granny square scarf…

2 More Sleeps Until

2011-10-13T22:59:00.001-04:00

RHINEBECK!!!!!!!!!!!

I first went to Rhinebeck four years ago….I have grown so much since then!

I am knitting…….I was only crocheting before…..

I am not buying yarn as wily nily……

I actually know some designers by name and recognize many of the yarn designers….

In fact tomorrow when I get home I’ll be going through the vendor’s list and making my choices of booths to visit…..I’ll get to them all, or browse them all, but which ones do I want to make a point to stop at…

I’ve got a couple of things on my shopping list….I’ve been attracted lately to the black yarns with dashes of color…My best bet will probably be Sanguine Gryphon, but if it’s craziness like last year, I’ll move on…..I’ll see if I can find it somewhere else….I’m also looking for a luscious pink yarn for a Christmas gift….

I have to buy socks for the Hubs at the Red Maple booth…he said they are the best socks he has ever worn…..

I’m thinking about sock blockers, what kinds are best…the wooden (so pretty) or the open wire ones? Or would those be best bought NEXT weekend at Stitches East?

I’m going to play Rhinebeck Bingo again…second year…I’ll have my sheepy stickers again……

Now if only I could figure out what to wear…..It might be too warm for sweaters (and I have no handmade ones), but I’m always cold….

Decisions, decisions……it’s time for bed and then it is only 1 MORE sleep until RHINEBECK!!!!!!!!!

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Over

2011-10-12T06:09:00.001-04:00

It’s been awhile since I have done one of these…and I decided to change things up a bit….

I pulled out several books that I have started, but for one reason or another, never finished….these will be the books I’m going to read in the next couple of weeks….although I am also going to read I Am A Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President. by Josh Lieb. One of my students took it out of the library and I read a bit of it and it’s HILARIOUS!

I also finished The Hunger Games last week…..very good book. The sequels are on order for the school library, so I’m waiting for them to come in…it really was very good!

So what’s in my tried to read and stopped for one reason or another pile (and this is not a definitive pile, I didn’t pull them all out…also sitting on the side of my bed with a bookmark in it is The Lampshade)

The Book Thief – I thought I finished this, but I can’t remember an ending, so gonna go back and peruse it.

A Dance of Dragons – taking my time, as there is no rush to finish this, as it’ll be YEARS before the next is released…

March – Interesting, but just put it down and never picked it back up…I love Louisa May Alcott

I Capture the Castle – I bought this in Corpus Christi when my dad was sick…and haven’t picked it back up since I got home…

Wicked – love the play, could not get through the book….

The Lovely Bones – at one time I had two hardcover copies of this, I may still have the other one here….don’t know I put this down…my kind of book…

The Children of Men – like the movie, book is different

Sugarcane Academy – a book about a school after Katrina, it’s almost done

The Girl in the Mennonite Dress – barely started it…

and

The Dome - LOVE Stephen King….Hubs finished it first, then gave to sister to read and I keep forgetting about it….

and my tower of books may fall sometime during the night, as I pulled books out of it…yeah that one in the far left corner…

Now onto the yarny things….Rav links…

From the left:

A Breath of Fresh Air Scarf

Dipped Infinity Scarf –almost done

Chain Lace Big Fat Scarf – not gonna be done for Rhinebeck

A pair of fingerless gloves I started…

Also not a definitive list, but the projects I’ve worked on the most in the last couple of weeks…

Check This Out!

2011-10-11T16:15:00.001-04:00

Larry Hunt is a performer….

What is he?

Can you guess what animal he is?

He did several characters and the students were enthralled!

Old Man

Puppy Dog

Quincey

After he came off the stage, he moved into the audience and over the seats…I took video, but it is very dark….It was amazing!

The students are participating in an art workshop with students from a local university. This is the second week they have been at the school….the students also started making their own masks today…

They will be painted next week….and then used in a performance….

Frustrated…at times

2011-10-10T16:50:00.001-04:00

Look at this yarn, it’s gorgeous , right?

Well eventually it is going to be this (sorry Rav link) from Kathy Merrick’s Crochet in Color.

I love the pattern…I love the yarn…but I’ve made lots and lots of mistakes! I would like to finish it for Rhinebeck next Saturday…not sure that is going to happen…I have just finished the 4th color and I have 5 more to go, unless I end it early….

Plus seems like it might be too warm at Rhinebeck this year for handknits….

This is where it is at..

I have to do lesson plans now…bummer….

Feis

2011-10-09T11:33:00.002-04:00

Today I went to watch my friend’s son at his first Feis.

Aiden at the feis…I think it is reel…

I’ve been to many of these over the years. These are smaller, local ones. I also once attended the Nationals in San Diego.

He won third place

I love that their whole family comes out to support him….the older two also danced. Ethan stopped in his early teens, but Caitlin is still dancing

This is from the Orireachtas last year.

Today she helped Aiden and was there to watch him. So she chose not to dance today…to support Aiden.

He was very nervous…

Then we watched some of the advanced competition. Greg is checking Aiden’s blood sugar level. Both of my friend’s sons have Type 1 Diabetes…the older son is in the baseball hat on the other side of Greg…

I enjoy going, but in all honesty, can’t really tell whose good and whose bad (unless it’s a glaring mistake) and all the music sounds the same to me…

Today Was Superhero Day

2011-10-06T16:36:00.000-04:00

And I wore this...

I Freakin' Love This!

2011-10-03T21:56:00.002-04:00

I received my latest Random Fandom today from Nerd Girl Yarns and am absolute in LOVE…LOVE…LOVE!

I must find the perfect something to make with this!

It is “Bored Now” which all Buffy fans recognize…Dark Willow….

Willow, my absolute favorite character…the one that made me cry so hard!

The story of Oz and Willow

Just watching this made me cry again…and it’s pretty crappy quality..damn I need to watch some Buffy (and the Hubs has now become a bit of a fan, at least he’s up to season 6 now!)

Makes me cry all over again

Best friends

I love this scene so much!

Willow is just the best!

Hmm, what’s up?

2011-10-02T22:35:00.001-04:00

I just have not been able to get back in the blogging swing of things….but got lots going on this month, so hopefully things will pick up, including the making of things!

Nerd Wars has started again…so excited! Although my team is mostly newbies, they are excited newbies…

I have started on one project and posted for my dissertation…

Rhinebeck this month and Stitches East….

and I’m out…see just can’t get back in the swing…..

hopefully now that my crafty mojo is back, my blogging mojo won’t be too far behind…..maybe it’s cuz I haven’t bought any yarn in several weeks (keep telling myself Rhinebeck and Stitches!) Now joining yarn clubs doesn’t count…I’ve joined two…oh and I’ll be working at Stitches…

See ya’ later alligator!

Hey It’s Monday…

2011-09-26T19:30:00.001-04:00

I took this from our porch Saturday. I had walked out of the bedroom and saw it reflected in the next door neighbor’s windows (yeah, we’re pretty close together)…

And on Saturday I also received my first Who’s Your Doctor club order from Nerd Girl Yarns. I’ve been getting lots of blues lately…

It’s “Untempered Schism” which I’m not quite sure what it refers to, not as up on my Doctor Who as I should be. But the bag! The bag is awesomeness!!!! It opens up to say, “It’s bigger on the inside!” If you want one for yourself, please go here.

And nobody wanted to link to me (last post)…I so sad…no really…I mainly did it so I knew how to do it…but still….makes me feel like that lone girl standing on the wall at the high school dance….

Today, we melted in the classroom, holy heck! I can’t wait for the cooling breezes of actual fall..

and I had a student tell me last week that his heart was “beeping” really fast…I had a giggle on that one! (Well first I had him repeat it to make sure I heard him correctly)…

Now off to watch Terra Nova…the Hubs thinks it’s gonna be Jurassic Park without the budget….I can’t wait!

Where I Blog

2011-09-24T09:36:00.004-04:00

I haven’t really crocheted or knitted since Christopher’s death…I worked a bit on something and started a new pair of gloves, but that is about it…so I thought I’d show you the down and dirty of my blogging area…
I chose to use my desktop for blogging. I do have a netbook, but it doesn’t have a lot of power, so I only blog on it when away…
Welcome to my blogging area….
Above to the left..

A small portion of my Wizard of Oz collection. All were gifts, except the Barbie. It is one of the more collectable ones and not one of the mass produced ones. I wanted the whole collection, but only managed to get Dorothy.
Above and to the right:

This is the top shelf of the bookcase that is next to the computer. The bookcase is filled with teacher resources and one shelf of crochet books/patterns. The doll was brought back from Vietnam by my father in 1971. I just started collecting sheep. Behind the sheep are more Wiz of Oz figurines. The other lunch box, which I have used. The Wiz of Oz board game, and tucked in front is a piece of art I won from a blog. I don’t have a spot for it yet.

Right above the computer…a mishmash of things…pictures of babies in things that I made them, cards, business cards, family pics, two flash drives. The potholder a student made me as a gift (I made her a blanket – she was battling cancer, is in remission now, but lost an arm)

And the computer area…keyboard really needs to be dusted….I did not clean or remove anything from these pictures….I pick up the area around my computer every other week or so, but more things get put there….The Debbie Bliss has been there since last weekend. I was looking for some other yarn and found it. It was by itself, so I pulled it out to put it with the other Debbie Bliss, but haven’t got to that yet…

So do have clutter around your blogging space too, or is it neat and pristine?…..Why don’t you share…hey maybe I’ll start a linky thing!

Fiber Twist 2011

2011-09-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

On Sunday I ventured to the Coventry Farmer’s Market. One day I year, it is also a fiber market, the Fiber Twist. It is held on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead.

This year I took a tour through the house. It was a nice tour, but no pictures allowed…

There was:

spinners

and fiber

some fleeces, look at this beautiful Jacob’s fleece!

Flowers

cows dressed up

Lots of dogs!

and lots of food!..An hour later, there were only two bags left

and music

I got a sock/dpn holder, a dpn roll, a very cool button and a sock kit

I bought the Hubs: Kettle Korn, fair trade coffee, and a hickory red raspberry syrup….

There was not as much yarn as I thought there was last year, but Rhinebeck is coming!

Break

2011-09-13T19:17:00.004-04:00

I'll probably be back next week...the Hubs brother died yesterday suddenly....

What Can We Do?

2011-09-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

We can remember and celebrate those heroes who lost their lives on that day.

I saw this commercial for the first time yesterday and am glad I found the video and the behind the scenes....if you download it form itunes (the link is listed with the video on youtube), a donation is made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation...

Behind the scenes

The reason I teach...kids are just awesome

Are You A Good Witch?

2011-09-10T11:43:00.002-04:00

As I said in a previous post, The Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite movie. I have also come to enjoy Wicked, the Musical. Although I must confess, I never finished the book…..
The play is back in Hartford and they have a display at a local mall, so I took a gander over yesterday…

There are three costumes on display..
Elphaba’s witch costume
The detail in this is amazing!

Glinda’s bubble costume

and Glinda’s Popular costume

I’m heading back today, because they have prize raffley thing going on…You have to collect 5 witch stamps from different places in the mall and then you are entered to win Wicked stuff….I got three last night before I was so tired, I was falling down…the deadline is tomorrow….