Currently: my blogging voice, family, knitting, holidays

Hi long lost bloggy friends!  I miss you all and I miss this space.  Some how over the last couple months I have lost my blogging voice and I'm not sure how to get it back.  I can't tell you how many times I've sat down to write a blog post and just get lost.  It always comes back to where do I start and what do I say.  I've been blogging at this space for over 7 years and in that time I've had one podcast, which has been put to rest, and now doing another.  I realize this space isn't the same as my podcast but for some reason I can't figure out what I want this space to be.  As I work this all out, I still want to share what's going on in my life as I always have.  So today we are going to start with a Currently post.  Hope you enjoy!

Currently:

I'm FRUSTRATED with my lack of voice on this blog.  As my life has changed, this blog has changed and I love going back and reading old post about what I was focusing on or thinking about.  I don't want to let this space go quite yet. I need to turn the frustration into planning and organizing the blog posts that are swirling around my brain.

I'm RELIEVED that my girls, hubby, and I have been managing our newish schedule well.  The change happened over 90 days ago and I don't really want to share lots of details but my hubby got a different job with different hours. This change has changed everything about our work week so it was a bit of a transition.  I was happy for my husband because the job change is so good for him but at the start I was very stressed about how it would effect our family.  We've had some difficult times of lack of sleep but overall I think everyone is doing well with the it.

I'm THANKFUL for my local family, who always steps in to help whenever we need them.  When our schedule first changed, I had to have surgery but it was not the greatest timing.  My family was very supportive of me getting the surgery as soon as possible as the doctors were suggesting and they all pulled together and helped me in every way they could.  Without them there, I'm not sure it would have gone as smoothly nor would I have healed as well.

I'm DELIGHTED that I have been able to knit quite a bit lately.  I don't feel like I've had all that much progress because of the lack of finished objects but I have actually been getting a lot done!  As I've said many times, knitting is my therapy and my mind is a better place when I have time to knit.  I have some very pretty things to share with you all soon!!
I'm EAGER to start decorating my home for CHRISTmas this weekend!  I love our home with the Christmas tree lit and my nativity scenes out.  It just makes our home feel so warm and full of holiday cheer!  We won't be in town for the week of Christmas this year but my sister is going to be staying at the house for the week with the pups!  I figured why not get my Christmas decorations up early so we can enjoy them longer and she will then get to enjoy them the week she's staying at the house.  My sister's family across the street will also get to enjoy our outdoor lights so it's worth it.   Picture is from last year.
I'm BEWILDERED how my first daughter is about to turn 4 on Dec 1st!  How is she already 4?  The time has flown by but she is just blossomed into this smart, kind, and loving child that fills this mama with pride!  I can't wait to celebrate her birthday with our family and friends on Dec 6th!  Someone got her a pretty awesome experience gift for the following day that I can't wait to experience with her!!!

I'm EXCITED about all that is coming in the next couple weeks.  My favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love spending time with family and give me a turkey dinner and this momma is happy!  I also love Christmas traditions!  This year we are road tripping up to spend the week with Special K's family and I'm so excited about it!  We haven't been up there in 2 years and I am looking forward to the girls getting time with their cousins, Grandma, Aunt, Graunt, and more! I can't wait for them to all meet Miss Maria and get to know her.  Will be an adventure as it's our first LONG road trip with them but I'm so very excited! 

 

I feel LOVED.  With our new schedule, my husband and I don't have lots of time together but the time we do have is spent focusing on family and quality time.  I'm so grateful for everything he does every day for our family.  He works so hard and loves us so much.  I can't express how much he means to me but I look forward to celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary next month and many many more in the future.

Thank you for reading!

How are you currently feeling?

52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose: If I could have one superpower...

If I could have one super power it would be the power to heal. It would be amazing to be able to use my hands and words to heal people of their illness but also of their hurts emotionally and not just physically.

Having lost my mother to cancer so young, I often thought about how I wish someone could have touched her and taken away the cancer.  I wish that she would not have had to suffer and go though all that she did.  I know others that have been sick and needed healing and I wish I could have been the one to do it.

So many people walk around with pain that's not physical.  Pain from hurts that they have experienced along their path.  Sometimes it's right on the surface and you can see this pain like its a physical feature. It makes me sad when you see this pain in young kids that shouldn't have to carry it.  I just want to take away all their sadness...not by giving them material things but by being able to heal the pain that they have had to go through.  Tell them they didn't do anything wrong and they didn't deserve it.  I would like to be able to say what they need to hear to let the past go and to heal...and forgive. 

Not sure exactly how my super power would work but I think it would be a miracle to have the power to heal those I love and those that I come across.

What would your superpower be?

52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose: What I live for

1 my daughters...they are my life, my air, my everything!  Love these two girls with all my heart.

2 my hubby...I wouldn't have my girls without him, our house would be lost without him.  We have our disagreements but even when I am mad at him I still want him around.

3 my family...I am not sure what I would do without my sisters, brothers, father, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and the rest of my family.  I couldn't possibly ask for a more support group of people!  They are always there to do what they can in time of need!

4 my friends...I may not always have time for them and we don't always get a chance to talk or hang out as much as I'd like, I am so grateful to have such good friends in my life that I have met over the years.

5 Jackjack and Abigail Grace...these 2 pups, who found me when they needed a home and love, are my furbabies!  It started out just me and ole Jackjack, who was so skinny and was on his last couple days at the pound.  He has taught me so much and has always been happy to see me.  Abbygirl had a rough start to life but she found Jackjack and me and we taught her about being a family.  Their lives have changes over the years as our family grew but I live for them.

6 yarn...as a knitter, you need yarn and I love my stash and in an emergency I would probably grab some as I ran out of the house.  After making sure my girls and dogs are safe first!

7 wool fiber...I love the smell of wool...yes I said it...I like the smell of sheep!  I like to spin it and play with it and generally spend time with fiber!

8 beach/pool...I have always lived close to the beach.  Even in San Fran where it was way too cold to go in...I enjoyed being around the water.  I like to hang out and listen to the waves and now that I am older watch my girl play in the sand.

9 vacation time...how could anyone not live for vacations!  A maternity leave is no vacation even though you don't have to work it is a lot of work!  I live for having time off with my family and traveling! 

10 holidays especially CHRISTmas...along with vacations comes holidays!  I love them!  Time celebrating together with family!  I love that!  I especially love all the CHRISTmas festivities and decorations, songs, food, and the meaning of the season!

What do you live for? What could you not live without?

52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose: Who I am

One of my favorite bloggers is starting a blogging journal topic for her Show and Tell Link Up that is 52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose.  This hit me as something that was exactly what I needed to get back to sharing my thoughts on this blog.  I'm joining it a week late so I'm going to post the first week's topic today to catch up.  Hope you enjoy!

Who I Am:

a daughter...I am a daughter to a very important man in my life.  My dad has helped define who I am in so many ways.  His decisions in his life effected me as I grew up and I learned from them and grew into the person I am today.  He has always had good advice for me in his way of saying things but growing up with him I've learned how to understand his words.  He is dear to me and I'm so thankful I'm his daughter.  Being my mother's daughter, even though she passed away when I was 6 years old, defined who I am.  Her memory is strong even though I was only 6 when she passed...she lives in me and my sisters and the stories people share about her life and who she was.  I feel her guiding me as I was growing up and become the woman I am today.  Her spirit is still guiding me and with me today.

a sister...I am a sister to 5 sisters and 2 brothers.  Being a sister to so many has taught me so much about my life and having them in my life is so important.  I'm the youngest so I often times am being mothered by them but that is ok...as I know they love me.  I am not sure who I would be without my sisters and brothers.  They are the best gifts my parents could have ever given me!

a wife...I am a wife to an amazing man.  He is my rock and my home.  We are both stubborn and our marriage is work...like Ben Afleck said in his recent Oscar acceptance speech...marriage is a lot of work...but that work is so rewarding and so worth every ounce of effort.  I often tell him how happy I am that he is my husband and that we have the most amazing 2 girls in the world together.  I'm thankful that we found each other and are doing our best to love, honor, and cherish each other.

a mother...Becoming a mom for the first and now the 2nd time, changed me in so many ways I don't even know where to begin. I think this is the biggest part of who I am today.  It's the most rewarding and hardest thing about who I am.  Someone once said that having children is like taking a part of your heart and letting it out in the world and I never understood this until the day I had Carmen.  It's amazing how much love you can feel instantly for this little person that spent 9 months in you and now is in your arms.  As this little person grows into a toddler, it's amazing how every day they learn something new and your heart just grows even more.  Having my toddler squeal with happiness and call me Mommy when she sees me and my newborn smile a big smile at me...melts my heart into mush.  I am blessed that they chose me to be their mom and I just hope that I do the best I can for them.

and lastly...a knitter/spinner...My knitting is always close by me and something that helps me balance my mind.  I may live in a warm climate but the craft of knitting and playing with fiber is such a big part of who I am as a person too.

How would you define who you are?

Currently: moving, changes, love

Today's blog post was inspired by a post on one of my new favorite blogs Rags to Stitches.  Head over there to read her Currently post.

I'm OVERWHELMED with the thought that we are starting our move in 10 days!  10 days people!  I have packed 2 boxes!  Yes, I have sold, donated, and toss a TON of stuff but there is still so much to pack.  We are supposed to be out of our current house by the 31st and if you look around...it doesn't look like it.

I'm ever THANKFUL of my husband's patience and hard work.  My husband isn't the most patient of men but he has so much patience for me.  I wish I could say I was great at keeping up with house chores and cleaning our house but alas I am not.  Given the choice to sit on the couch and knit in a dirty house or get up and clean it....let's just say...you can answer that one.   I know it's very frustrating for my husband.  He is amazing though and he usually cooks dinner and cleans most the house.  I am the one who takes responsibility for Carmen.  I make sure she eats her dinner, I give her a bath, read books, and put her to bed every night but Tuesday night(my knit night). I also do the dishes most night when he cooks and since our house needs vacuumed EVERY day I will vacuum a couple times a week.  I do laundry but Special K does most of it...mind you he usually needs to do laundry more often than I do.  He also has only cleaned the bathroom once...hmm...I do more cleaning that I give myself credit for.   Anyway...there you go...if it wasn't for my husband...we would live in a dirty house until someone mentioned they were stopping by...when I would quickly clean as much as possible.  I am still holding out hope for a trustworthy cleaning service to show up to clean our house once a week...and there is no bill!

I'm EXCITED to see all the painting my hardworking hubby and his dad have been doing in the new house!  They are painting the bedrooms as those are the only rooms that we really aren't going to be doing anything to that needed a fresh coat of paint.  I helped pick the colors but I haven't been able to go see the process.  He wants me to see it when it's finished and be surprised!  The hardwood floors are getting re-finished next week and I really can't wait to see how they turn out!

I'm NERVOUS about all the changes that are going on.  How will Carmen react to the move?  Will she be able to sleep in her new room?  When do we switch her to her big girl bed? When do we finally get rid of her bobo aka pacifier?  Carmen isn't a fan of changes.  She likes to know what to expect and likes routines.  She has gotten used to her summer routine and with the school year starting and the move happening, I worry how she will react.  I'm sure it will be fine as I tend to worry so much and then it's nothing.  I know we are not ready for the switch to no bobo and big girl bed but I know those things are coming this fall and I just sort of dread them.  I also dread potty training....ugh!  I know that if I can get a positive attitude about these things then I have a feeling they will go much smoother than if Carmen senses my dread.

I'm so PROUD of all the new things Carmen learns every day.  I feel every day there is a new word that she starts saying or a new skill she picks up.  Lately she has been practicing our names a lot.  I'll catch her just randomly saying Mama, Dada, and if she has her baby with her Baby.  She also has started to sing to herself a lot.  She sometimes will look to see if you are watching her as she sings but she mainly wants to sing by herself.  She will let me sing "The Wheels on the Bus..." with her and we both do the motions.  She is so loving with her baby dolls and her other stuffed animals.  Her Aunt Felicia taught her how to burp them and it's the cutest thing because she even makes the fake burp sound!  She also has learned how to make circles and her fine motor skills are improving a lot!  She will still opt to use her hands to eat sometimes but I don't mind...you can only eat applesauce with your hands for so long...so let her be young!

I'm APPRECIATIVE of all the help we have gotten from family.  Our family is amazingly helpful!  One of my sisters(not always the same one they switch it up) picks up Carmen every day, so we can keep Carmen at the daycare we love most.  They have helped us in so many ways, not even sure where to start.  Both my family and Special K's family have been amazing and are always there to help us and I couldn't be more thankful of them all!

I'm FAITHFUL that God has a bigger plan and knows what he is doing in my life and those around me.  Sometimes it's hard to see his plan and sometimes his timing isn't ours but in the end his plan is greater and bigger than we could have ever imagined.  Just takes faith and prayer.

I'm HAPPY with my life.   Even with all the nervousness, worry, and overwhelmed feelings, I am so very excited about my life and where it's headed.   My husband is amazing and I love him more every day.  I am so proud to be his wife.  My daughter is someone I love to be with, am so proud of, and who's kisses and hugs melt my heart.  Jackjack and Abigail are two of the most crazy dogs but I love them and their welcome when we come home has always been one of my favorite parts of my day.

Happy Living!

What are you feeling currently?  Share 3 current feelings with me!

Blogger 411: All you need to know about Me and my life.

I recently came across the blog "From Mrs. to Mama." It's a great mom blog that I have enjoyed catching up with. She posted this link up last Tuesday but I just found it and wanted to join up before it closes!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I have been blogging for over 5 years.  My first post went up on April 2, 2007.  I've written about this recently in this post, however, it started out as a place to write thoughts/online journal and no one really read it and then became a knitting/dog blog and now it's this mash up of all things me.  It's changed so much as I have changed in the last 5 years and I have a feeling I'm not done changing so this blog will change as I do.

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I started my college career at the University of South Florida and spent 2 years there.  I then took a leap and went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and got a B.F.A. in Computer Arts, specializing in 3D Character Animation.  Not sure I really thought that degree through all the way but it's what I saw myself doing until it was actually time to do it and now I haven't animated in so long I wouldn't even be sure where to start.

3. Where have you traveled?
I grew up in Panama and traveled throughout the country, however, there are still places I would love to go back and see.  I have mostly traveled throughout the US.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
A house! Pay off my student loans! A minivan! (Yes, that's three)

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
Lying, being mean to children/pets, and neglectfulness

6. What is your favorite movie?
Shawshank Redemption

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
I mostly drink water and at least one cup of coffee in the morning.  For a treat, I love me some Cranberry Ginger Ale or some Maracuya aka Passion Fruit juice.  My alcoholic drink of choice is beer then wine...specifically either a Blue Moon or Stella Artois but I've been getting more into stouts as well.  And I like both red and white wines depending on my mood.  Summer time a light white wine is nice but I love good red wine too...on a cold day a glass of red wine warms you right up!

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Me time consists of all things fibery, be that knitting or spinning.  A comfortable spot with a nice view or TV show/Movie and my knitting or spinning and I'm a happy camper.  I love being able to spin or knit outside but in the FL heat...that is NOT possible most the year.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Oh this is so hard!  Right now I think it would be Home Depot or Lowes because well...not really ready to go into details why but soon.  Otherwise, I would think Target would be nice because we'd be set on diapers and living for a while.  I know this all sounds so practical!  I should say some store to buy new clothes or fun stuff...but honestly I can't think that way right now.  I'm in the land of saving and being practical so this is the answer I have now.  Some day it may change. :)
 
10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
 Oh I am sure there are many many many of these but right now I just can't pin point one to share.  Let's just say I have a tendency to shove my foot right into my mouth. 
 
11. What day would you love to relive again?
I'm not sure I can answer this.  I started by thinking my wedding day but then Carmen wasn't there and so that's out.  Then I thought about her birth...umm...really not sure I want to relive actually giving birth to her when I already got through that...not that I'm not up to giving birth again but I already gave birth to Carmen.  Check that off my list and move on.   Then I thought about those first days with her...but I was SO tired and learning so much that it's not the best option either.  I would love to be able to experience all the firsts with her again and be "awake."  There you go...the best answer I can give.

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
America Ferrera

Photo Source

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
My first job was the first summer after high school and I worked for a temp agency doing computer jobs.  In college, I worked for the computer lab in the library at USF.  When I got to San Fran, I worked at a Fitness Club as the front desk person and got a free membership!  SCORE!  I also worked at the Children's Museum, and for a short time I worked for a small indie coffee shop that was right down the street from where I lived.  Oh and I worked at Border's downtown San Fran in the coffee shop there.  That's where I first started drinking coffee...I knew I could get it to taste as good as it smelled.
 
14. Show us a picture from high school or college. 
High School Volleyball days.  I'm on the far left.

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I would love to go to Italy! 

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you. 
Here are just a couple from the last month of our little family...I'm sure those who read this blog see LOTS of pictures of my family. :)

 

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I see myself as a mother of 2 or 3 kids(don't tell my hubby as he only wants 2), our 2 pups getting older but hopefully still around, and still happily married to Special K.  I see us owning a house and finally having finished any major renovation I'm sure any house we get will need.  I'd also like to have taught more people how to knit and spin!  I've only taught several people how to knit but really want to spread the spinning love!

Happy Linking!

This link up closes 7/24/12 at night...so if you want to join...get on it!

Was there something I shared in this link up that surprised you?  Something that didn't? Let me know if you join so I can read your answers too!

Knit, knit, spin, knit...repeat!

Hi blog readers!!  Did you miss me?  I feel I have left you all hanging lately!  Life has been pretty busy as usual but that is no excuse.  I'm back and I really hope you enjoy all the catching up I'm about to start.   Since there has been a lot of it, we are going to start with crafting update!  This might be picture heavy and pretty long so hang in there.

The new term of the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup Spring started back on May 1st and that as usually got my creative juices flowing!

First it inspired me to start working on more blanket squares for Carmen's Barknknit Raising Quilt.  The pattern is the Barn Raising Quilt from Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together by Shelley Mackie and Larissa Brown.  I started this quilt Sept 23, 2009, which was quite a few months before Carmen was conceived but I started it with the intention of knitting it for my future baby.  It's one of those projects that I knit in between other bigger projects or when I'm just not sure what I want to be knitting.  The squares go relatively fast and I'm using just random sock scraps from my stash so it's fun to see the colors take shape. Last month, I turned in 2 squares into classes and if I recall correctly are square number 14 and 15 out of 36.  I'm hoping to complete this before we transition her to her toddler bed sometime closer to her 2nd birthday.

 In the Winter term 2012, for my BROOM project I set out to complete a shawl for my SIL for her wedding.  I worked with her on what pattern she liked and what color and type of yarn she wanted.  We looked at a lot of different types of shawls and together we picked the Haruni Shawl by Emily Ross using the lovely 50/50 silk/merino blend Juniper Moon Farms Findley yarn.  This is the first laceweight shawl that I have ever completed.  I have a WIP for a shawl for myself that is still sitting in it's project bag waiting to be frogged and knit into something else but this Haruni is the first one I have finished.  I added crystal beads to the bottom chart but you can't really tell in the pictures.  I'm hoping to get better pictures but you will have to just deal with these until I am able to get better ones.  It came out more beautiful than I imagined and I am so happy with it!  It's delicate and drapes beautifully!  I wasn't able to complete it in time to turn in for my BROOM but I turned it in first day of Spring term for detention.

Completed but pre-blocking.  Check out the spread at knitting that night!

Creative blocking!

Ignore dirty bathroom but this is the best picture I have of the back!  And you can't really see the beads.

The next project I completed was a shawl for my friend Jessie, who is having surgery today.  I cast on this simple shawl using my handspun from MissBabs merino/nylon pencil roving.  The colors were perfect for Jessie aka Tinyant and I used Lala's Simple Shawl pattern by Laura Linneman.  I didn't follow the pattern exactly but that is perfect as Jessie never follows patterns and when she does she uses them more as guides than patterns.  I feel the shawl is just perfect for her!   Carmen and swung by on Saturday and gave it to her and she was so pleased with it!   I'm so happy she liked it and she even blogged about it!  Can't beat a handmade gift being appreciated so much!  I will be praying for her today as she goes through her surgery and thinking good thoughts through her recovery period. 

picture borrowed with permission from Tinyant.  Please check out more pictures on her blog!

The last thing I completed or really started was the Beekeeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits using random scraps of sock yarn in my stash and some poly-fill.  These hexipuffs as they are called are so fun to make!  They are pretty fast and once they are done so squishy and fun!!  I made 2 in one night and finished the 3rd the next.  I calculated out how many I had to complete to turn in for classes and I have to make 3 so that isn't bad and so fun.  I plan to fit three sets of these into classes and 3 blanket squares in to other classes. 

3 hexipuffs and blanket square in progress.

And now onto WIPs!  You thought I was almost done right?  Not Quite!  The first thing I'm working on is my History of Magic OWL this term.  I wasn't able to finish my OWL last term so I'm really hoping to complete this one.   The OWL is to finish 3 pairs of socks.  I have to finish 3 individual socks by the end of this month to be able to get 50% points so I need to focus on them as all I have is almost 1 sock done and the toes of 2 others. :)  Here are some progress pictures.

Bellatrix sock in progress.  Had to rip back toe last night and make the foot longer.

Hedwig sock!

Dumbledore sock!

For my BROOM this month, I'm spinning.  The goal is to spin the equivalent of 30 mins a day for the duration of the BROOM time with a minimum of 8 oz spun.  I started some laceweight with some lovely merino/bamboo/nylon I had in my stash!

not a lot of progress...need to catch up on this!

Well, I think that covers pretty much all my crafting right now.  I hope you enjoyed this long post and all the updates!  I hope to be back soon with more posts!

Happy Crafting!!!

Organizing my WIPs!

I mentioned in the post the other day about how I've been getting back to my knitting.  It started when I dove into my stash to look at what's there and what I have on the needles.  I also decided that I needed to organize the projects I have on the needles so that I only have a couple I'm actively working on.  I decided the best way to do this was to pick themes for projects.  I often times have a project sitting in a specific place to work on for a specific time.  Such as my nightstand, in the stash closet for couch knitting, and in my purse or diaper bag for travel knitting.  Using this theme, I organized the projects on my needles into four categories and picked out some projects that I have been wanting to knit and add those to the lists.  This is what I came up with.  Project currently on the needles are in bold.  I've posted this on the group on Ravelry.com and also talked about it on the podcast.  It has morphed a couple times. :)

Travel  Project:

1. Barknknit’s Barknknit Raising Quilt by Shelley Mackie and Larissa Brown (longterm project)
2. Barknknit’s Simple Anklet made up pattern

Challenging Project:

1. Barknknit’s Moonfleet by Janine Le Cras
2. Aidez Cirilia Rose

Selfish Project:

1. Barknknit’s My Hemlock Ring Blanket pattern by Jared Flood
2. Spectra by Stephen West

Carmen/baby Project:

1. Simple Burpcloths in a pattern that I made up. (yes the projects page says I completed it but there is one left on the needles that I'm gifting to a friend)
2. Soakers for a friend (edited to add this)
3. Toddler Raglan Hoodie by Megan Goodacre
4. Baby Tiered Coat and Jacket by Lisa Chemery

Feel free to take this idea and post a similar post on your blog and come back and link it in the comments so I can  go check it out!

Since I'm sure many of you are like me and feel pictures are important on blog posts.  Here is a WIP pic of my Hemlock Ring Blanket that I've been working on since last April!

I'm SO SO close to being done.  I'm on the bind off and I chose to do the knitted bind off and once I figured it out it's going famously. My plan is to have this off the needles this weekend.  I really want to cast on the Spectra which I have the yarn in my stash for but promised myself I couldn't until I finish the hemlock ring.  Wish me luck!

The project bag was gifted to me by my friend Amanda who used to be NH Knitting Mama but is now Sunflower Yarns.  You should definitely check out her online store!

Happy Knitting!!!

PS...Tour de Fleece starts tomorrow and so you'll actually get some spinning content soon!

Craft night at Sid's!

Last night was craft night at my friend Sid's house. Mostly it was beading and knitting and eating wonderful food. Sid loves to host craft nights and craft gatherings and she is one of the most creative people I know! She also is Frankie's forever mom and that makes her even higher on my list of favorite people. It was great to see Frankie and he's doing SO well! He seems really happy and he loves his sister Arwyn!

Other than working on my text ready Mitts, I did some beading with lots of Sid's help. I have beaded before but she is so much better at it than I am..and a great teacher. I made two things while I was there. I made a lovely pair of earrings and a bracelet with the CUTEST charm on it. She had this prayer box charm that I just fell in love with. You write a little prayer on a tiny piece of paper and put it in the box. I already wrote my prayer last night when I got home and put it in the box and prayed.
Well...hope everyone had a great Saturday! Jackjack and Abigail got their annual shots and they are doing pretty good. Then I met some of my college friends for lunch and had a fantastic time. Then we hung out around the house and last had dinner over at Kenny's dad's house with him and his wife. I always enjoy going over there and hanging out with them.

Now it's time to head to bed since it's 11:36pm and I need sleep! I have a LOT to do tomorrow and the week ahead keeps getting more and more booked with things to do before we head to OHIO!!

Good night and Sweet Dreams!

Sunday at Manda's...knitting, spinning, and dyeing oh my!

This weekend has been nice. Saturday, I met up with two of my friends and their kids for breakfast at my favorite place. The food was yummy and the company was nice. The afternoon was spend with Special K. We cleaned the house mostly but we did watch Cobb together.

Today was another fun day. I went over to Manda's for another Fiber Fun day! We had a good time sitting around and spinning and knitting together. We also got some dyeing in. Here are some pictures from Monica's camera of the fibery fun day!

A new friend came to our knit group and joined our Fiber Fun day today. Her name is Shannon and she's from New Jersey. She had never spun before so here I'm trying to giver her a lesson. Bless her heart that she actually learned from me! By the end there she was doing great! I need to learn more how to teach spinning. I'm just glad she seemed like she was having a great time!
Later we dyed some. I brought some BFL to dye up. The colors didn't come out as I was hoping but I like it!! It's a bit camo but I'm thinking if I ply it up with a different color it might look really cool! Even plying it up on its self will be nice too! Here I am preparing the dye.
I did a hot pour dyeing style..which Manda taught me! It's a lot of fun. I picked three colors, olive, brown and something else I can't remember. I think I put to much brown and not enough of the other colors or the other colors were too muted along with the brown that the whole roving kind of looks brown with little spots of other colors. Here's me pouring the dye.Here is my lovely roving! I actually like it a lot more now that I've rinsed it and it's drying. At first I was a bit disappointed but not anymore! ;) I think dyeing is fun because you never know what you're gonna get! Like Chocolate! hahaha
Here's our new friend Shannon...with her two skeins of worsted weight yarn.and here she is dyeing up her yarn in blue, black and red. She did a different style of dying. It was fun too! This is closer to what I first learned.
Well..hope you enjoyed the pictures. This week is going to be a bit hectic but I'm looking forward to it! My dad and step mom get her on Tuesday!! I am very excited to see my dad!

Hope you have a great week!!
Happy Dyeing and Fiber Fun day!