End of Year Clearances

'Tis the time of the year to take advantage of the sales that many different kinds of businesses offer.

As a knitter- my favorite end of the year sale is at the local yarn stores. Here in Dallas, we have had several stores with great sales this week - The Shabby Sheep on Boxing Day, PassionKnit all week long and even the Knitting Nook over in North Richland Hills on Monday. Of course with this boot on, I've not been able to take advantage of any of those.

However, the granddaddy of them all is at the Woolie Ewe - last Saturday of December - the sale of all sales! This year, they opened at 5 AM ! Thankfully, I have a friend who is as crazy as I am - so we got there at 3:15 am. We weren't first in line - Missy was. (But she's a crazy college student who can still camp out overnight without worry.) But, we were second and third.

I took my Christmas cash that had been given specifically for the sale - and my debit card (which was cringing at the thought of such a sale) and we hit the door at 5 AM along with a throng of other people.

And when I say "throng" - I mean crazyknittingpeoplewhowouldgetupandshopforyarnat5AM.

That store was PACKED. But, as usual, Jill and Sue had the Ewe running like a top and while we did have to wait in line, it was fairly swift moving.

Best of all - I came out with some change - a whole $3.97 - and the debit card gave a sigh of relief!

After the sale and breakfast with the other crazy knitters, I came home and tried to sleep...only to wake up every few minutes having dreamt about either this one yarn I didn't buy (Ella Rae Palermo) or being pushed around stacks of yarn. I guess it was PTYSD (Post Traumatic Yarn Sale Disorder). I thought of going back for the Palermo, but decided that I didn't really need it and was good.

And then - after an annual end of year luncheon with some friends - Alek and I did something we seldom do - we went shopping together.

See what we came home with??



She makes me smile...

...I can't decide whether it's 'cause she is so pretty - or 'cause she means that the POS Cruiser is now out of our lives and no longer draining our wallet. (I've been told it's not enough that the ads show it big enough to fit an alpaca in the backseat - and that I needed to read the fine print that the alpaca was sold separately.)

I have to say, this was the most pleasant car-buying experience EVER. (I didn't know it was possible to type "pleasant" and "car-buying experience" in the same sentence without an "un" thrown in there somewhere!)

If you are ever going to buy a Honda - big or small - I highly recommend Robert Kurlan (sp?) at Honda Cars of McKinney. I never felt pressured to buy something - when we walked away back in September, I had told him he could call me to see if we had changed our minds and he didn't abuse it - just would call when I had told him that it was ok to check back with us after "X date" and then call back when I told him it'd be a little bit later in the year before we were ready to deal. It was so nice to deal with someone who wasn't overbearing and loud - didn't try to rope us in with feel good stories and loads of crap - just patient and knowledgeable about his product. I wasn't buying the top of the line car - in fact, their smallest model - but you would never know it from the way he treated us. I'd buy from him again in a heartbeat...and recommend him to anyone.

Merry Christmas, Y'all!!!

Thanks & Bones & Resolutions!

Consider this one huge bowl of Catch-up.

First of all - I need to send a BIG Ol' THANK YOU! to Frances for my Coffee Swap 3 gift! I sent proper thanks to her already - long long ago - but really need to do it publicly. I kept waiting for my camera's battery charger to reappear so I could get a "better than the cell phone" pic...but since the charger is still in hiding, I'm going to have to just use this horrible picture to show what I assure you was one of the best packages EVER!



What is hard to see there is two lovely skeins of SWTC Bamboo in the Esquire colorway and a big ol' skein of the Socka Colori Disco in a blingy light blue. Love them! There was also some cute napkins and adorable coasters not to mention some chocolate (yum) and some Authentic NJ Saltwater Taffy (some of my absolute favorite candy!). And then, Frances also makes these lovely soaps - and I got several of them. Y'all figure out how to buy them from her - 'cause they smell incredible - and there's this one bar called "Kitchen Magic," that does just take all the smells from your hands from like garlic or onion chopping.

As far as the coffee goes - which my Alek says is the reason he can get behind this swapping business - she sent a really dark rich coffee called "Twin Lights Fog Buster Blend" from Jersey Shore Coffee Roasters which definitely has a bite to it - but it's a good bite. Will definitely wake you up! But the other is my favorite - from Asbury Park Roastery - City Roast Bolivia. It's a perfect blend for the two of us - we love it and may have to figure out how to import some more to Texas! HA!

But, the best part of the package was the mug - The coolest coffee mug ever! I loved it all, Frances!! You are definitely a great swap partner!

In November, I got to trek down to Austin and the Hill Country not once - but twice. First on vacation with Alek whom I took to the airport half-way through and traded him out for my Mama. It was a fun trip where Alek and I spent as much time in as many coffee houses and cheap diners in Austin as possible as well as some time in Gruene and New Braufels. When Mama got there, we spent some time with one of her college buddies and then spent a day in Fredericksburg where we shopped (yes, I found a yarn store) and ended the day watching 3 million bats emerge from a cave...it was quite a fun week!

The next weekend, I went with this group of sheeple down to the Kid N Ewe Festival in Boerne.



We had a blast - and blasted through the money we had buying yarn - we bought mostly wools - but these two were there to show us what they could produce.


Isn't he CUTE?

She is spinning directly from that bunny!!

We also got to go to this new knitting store in Austin - The Knitting Nest. How cute is this place??? Ok...so you have to click on the link to see the pics - Blogger and some of my pics that I do have aren't agreeing...

As far as Bones go - the mutant extra bone is gone. (I know you are thankful for no pictures of that!) I'm in a knee high aircast for 6 weeks (two of which are gone) - but that means I am in super cranky mode since I can't drive for another 4. This does not make me happy...but I'll live - maybe. (Some of you have witnessed my dear hubby's driving - so you know what I mean.)

On to Resolutions! Knitting Resolutions, that is. Dawn, My friend and fellow BigMama/BooMama/Pioneer Woman lover (it's her fault I'm obsessed with these three ladies and their lives), has issued a Knitting Resolutions edict - er, um, invitation - to all of the internets...so I shall participate.

• Knitting Resolution #1 - Finish that darned Clapotis. (It is NOT that hard...and when I pick it up, I enjoy it - enough so that I've got a couple of other yarns that I bought thinking "That would make an awesome Clapotis!)


• Knitting Resolution #2 - Attempt to knit a sweater - not just talk about it. It can be short sleeved - it can even be for a child - just DO it.


• Knitting Resolution #3 - Learn something new - Magic Loop, Intarsia, something


• Knitting Resolution #4 - Actually do a Toe-Up Sock. I took the class, I know the basics - again, just do it already.


• Knitting Resolution #5 - Frog and restart the Montego Bay scarf using that beautiful Woolmeise. It's wonky and I know that I won't be happy with it as is - so Frog it and Restart it!


• Knitting Resolution #6 - Be more dedicated about taking pictures and then actually posting them to my blog. Included in this resolution is to blog more often. This once in a blue moon stuff just doesn't cut it.

I'm sure that there are more - but this will get me kick-started...(thanks Dawn.)

Win a Free Template for Your Blog!

C'mon - you know you want one as much as I do...

Knit Packing

So, I'm going on a trip starting tomorrow - It's a full week at the Hill Country Resort down on Canyon Lake. (Tough, huh? I'm just lucky to have parents who chose to spend the day before my wedding sitting at their kitchen table with salespeople from their timeshare who came to get them to upgrade...)

Anyway, I'm sitting here thinking of the important stuff - like what Knitting to pack.

I know there are things I want to finish - socks (the Hacho socks which are almost finished), the Clapotis (that I actually started during this week LAST year).

There are things I want to start - other socks (there's some Yarn Ahoy that I can't quit petting), some baby stuff I need to work on, and I really want to do that Montego Bay scarf...

But, I'm weird about wanting to wind up my yarn before I know I'm actually going to use it...and if I don't get to those things, do I want to have them wound when I didn't need to.

I wonder - just how much room will my winder and swift take up in the car???

Three Women in a Volvo Take Hwy 80

So...remember last year when the girls and I went on that trip up Hwy 80 for our "little" garage sale adventure?

Well, it's Hwy 80 Sale time again!

Yes...you read that right - From Texas all the way to Mississippi - so Tasha, Becky and I hit the road again this year to see what we could scrounge up! (We missed Lise - but she was off in Rhinebeck - so we don't think she missed us too much.)

We met up at 6 am (on a Saturday, if you can believe!) - armed with Starbucks and an empty Volvo*

We set out putting it out to the Garage Sale Universe - 'cause that's what Tasha's MIL says to do - that we wanted certain things - purse handles, button jars, tea cups, etc... I think Tasha put a little too much emphasis on Button Jars - 'cause I think she ended up with a few. (One of those jars is in the picture of us with the Hwy 80 sign.)

(Tasha, Me, Becky)

We tried a different approach this year - driving past a bunch of it along I-20 due to the early hour - but after a stop at the Chevron in Canton to get rid of some of those Starbucks cups (yeah, that's the ticket), we decided to just cut on over to Hwy 80 around Mineola and head east, since it was almost 8 am by that time.

Along the way we saw tables in parking lots,

Sales on the back of flatbed trailers,

and in front of local shops/garages.

Sales in front of, behind (and inside of) homes -

Both the whimsical ones that seem like they are part of a post card...

And the ones that we were blinded by the thought of a sale inside - but after looking at them once we were back in the car, made us wonder if we didn't need to be a little more picky...

We fell in love with autumn in East Texas - and found a place tucked away off the highway that we decided should be promptly bought from the owners and turned into a Knitter's Retreat.

We had to go back to the Parades Family Restaurant for their Buffet with some of the Best Fried Chicken in the State...

And we laughed at the get go that we'd never find another pirate ship like I did last year...

But, there in one of the shops we went into - was this "beauty"...

No...it didn't come home with us - even though the gentleman who ran the shop offered us an additional 10% off if we could guess his age within five years...

It was obvious early on that the girls also had a side bet as to how many purses that I would be getting during the day. I think the final count was 6 - if you count the wallet on a strap I bought. It had a long strap, so I think it would count as a purse. But the two of them will have to duke it out as to who won.

Tasha, however, had the "Finds of the Day" this year - in two ways...
First, she found this cool Owl necklace -



But then, she found the perfect pink purse - vintage - and in beautiful condition! I, the purse ho, was (am still) green with envy!


and she paid for this little piece of perfection?



UGH! ;)

Critters - We saw Lots and Lots of Critters...

We saw Shop cats -

Llamas (pre-yarn stage) ;)

(I kept encouraging that one to spit on Tasha - just for the picture's sake.)

and a doggie along for the ride.

We saw LOTS of Ravelry mascot Bob's cousins - even one little baby cousin who had just gone to her new forever home...(No pic of "Shemo" - I was too busy getting Boston Terrier kisses from her to remember the camera...)

We even went into a Chevron where they were selling their silly little cars. Of course, with it being October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they were selling Pink Cars - which we naturally gravitated towards -

Even THAT car had a critter passenger...

(it was a death mobile...)

Now, Bathroom breaks take on a life of their own with three women in the car and Starbucks, waters and Sonic Cherry Limeades downed along the way. There were times where buying this might have been the "Find of the Day."



Although, admittedly, last year's breaks brought more giggles, we had fun going back to the same bathrooms along the way to see if they were still using strings to pull the handle ('cause people kept breaking it - so why keep fixin' it?) (They had fixed it this year) and whether the signage was still as funny.

It was.

We also had to find the place with the Candy Cigs - 'cause it's not a Garage Sale Day without the Candy Cigs...

It took us all day - but we found it -

and they had them - and the Ketchup Chips.

(How appropriate that the place is now pink...)

Next year, I'm sure we'll go back to the same places - to see if there are strings and candy cigs again.

After the Pink Candy Cig place (or, Bill & Mary's BBQ - whatever you want to call it), we turned towards home and just had to make one more stop...

Do you blame us???

We ended up back in Plano where we started about 7 pm - Volvo loaded down...


Tired - and happy - and giggled out.

I got home, checked e-mail, took off my shoe and boot, laid down on the bed about 8 pm - and woke up at 8 am Sunday morning.**

We're going again next year, right??



* In an effort to keep us honest, this pic was taken when we got home after the Volvo was unloaded (see the price tag stuck on the floor?) - the pic when we left would have been MUCH darker...

** Another bit o' honesty - I did wake up about 2:30 am - checked email and then went back to bed.

Middle-aged Mutant Knitting Woman

So...the good news is that my hip is healing fabulously! Everything right on time - only a little bit of weakness that bothers me (like not being able to put my own foot in the car yet) but the Great Dr. A says that this will continue to get stronger.

However, when I was in the doc's office - I asked if he would look at my foot 'cause it had been hurting a bunch and I didn't know if I'd strained it or what. He was concerned about a stress fracture - 'cause I had been told in college that I had one and that it "might happen again and again through life." And it has - bothered me a little, but I always knew to wrap it and it would get better. Turns out, I didn't so much have a fracture - as I do have an extra bone! I asked if this mutant tendency would give me HEROES status - but he said no.

I decided that this must be the only reason I could do THIS:

In other knitting - I've been working on socks, dyeing (but haven't updated the shop yet) and I did a couple of scarves for the Red Scarf Project.

I used the new Berroco Comfort yarn for these - and they are the softest things in the world! I'm amazed by this yarn.

Now, I'm off to knit some more...

What A Fiberlicious Birthday!

Birthday Goodies (w/comments)
Originally uploaded by lizkiddo2000

I have such wonderful knitterly friends - I am so very blessed! (Click on the picture and it will give you little comment boxes to see what everything is...)

Coffee Swap 3

Hey Pal!

These are the Questions (oh, and the answers.) ;)

1. Whole bean or ground? Ground

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Definitely Leaded!

3. Regular or flavored? I like both. Regular, I like something medium roast (i.e., Not too bold, not to wimpy.) Flavored - I like nutty and cinnamon-y flavors. My favorite coffee is from Central Market and is called the "Austin Blend" - which combines the nutty and cinnamon-y flavors with a hint of vanilla.

4. How do you drink your coffee? A little coffee with my cream and sugar, please. (At least that's what my DH would say.) Winter, I like it hot - summer, I like it iced.

5. Favorite coffee ever? The cup of coffee served at Dupar's in Southern California.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Define fussy. I don't dare drink 'instant' like Sanka - but would do an "International Coffee" if forced.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Dark, dark Chocolate and pecans or other nuts.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? The one flavor I thought I'd love - but vehemently do NOT is Creme Brulee. Who'da thunk it!? In general, though, I don't like vanilla or caramel flavored coffees.

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Good wool, cottons, natural fibers

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Cheap, crappy acrylics or "fancy" yarns with eyelashes or fur.

11. What's on your needles? Ususally socks and some sort of scarf or shawl.

12. Favorite colors? I love all color - not a big fan of huge amounts of yellow or orange - but appreciate them as accent colors. Blues, pinks, greens and purples are probably my favorites - but I also love lush greys and browns.

13. Allergies? See #10. ;) Scratchy wool does make me itch and I can't tolerate angora. Wish I could - 'cause I love it.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I am fairly easy to please - love doing these swaps and seeing what everyone gets. Have fun with it - and ask any questions you wish!

On Knitting - and Enunciation...

So I was out last night with a few friends, celebrating one of said friend's birthday. We went to the Steakhouse at one of those large Fishin' and Huntin' stores - which, if you think about it, is kinda weird - but the food was fantastic - and the drink, well, let's just say I only needed one dirty martini - and probably shouldn't have knit after that one!

Now - this tale happened before said martini - but as I believe that if you can't set a good example, you must serve as a horrible warning - I give you this lesson in EEEE NUN SEE AY SHUN.

As we were standing by our table waiting to be seated, the host said, "There's a lady upstairs waiting for a group - could she be with you?" and offered to go get her. The way he described her sounded familiar - but then he said that the people she was waiting for wouldn't know what she looked like - which didn't sound like anyone we were expecting. So I said, "Ask her if she's a knitter."

Now, this gentleman - who just happens to be African American - did a double take and said, "Excuse me??" I thought he hadn't heard me - so I lifted up my knitting bag and again said, "Ask her if she's a knitter." At which point he broke down laughing saying, "I thought you were asking if she was one of MY people."

I mean, I know I grew up in East Texas and all - but I was horrified - and then couldn't quit laughing about it. (Thankfully, he was laughing with me!)

BUT - I think from now on, I'll hold up my knitting bag FIRST when asking someone if they are a KniTTer.

On another note -

The DFW Knit Out is this weekend - at Half Price Books on NW Hwy in Dallas. We've had fun planning it and there are some GREAT Door Prizes.

I'll be the one with "LIZ" printed on my name tag with a big K on the upper right hand corner of the tag.

You know K- for KniTTer!

Is it Friday Yet??

I am so ready for this weekend.

The gals I went on the retreat with back in March are all going back to the scene of the crime for a Summer retreat this weekend. This time we are having a retreat-long class on how to do a top down baby cardigan - taught by our Knitting Fairy. I got some of the new Berroco Comfort in the Berry Mix colorway so I can make the cardigan for my new goddaughter.

I am 90% of the way through the Lady Eleanor shawl from Scarf Style - I only seem to knit on it when I am at the Tuesday Night Knit Night in Lewisville - 'cause their AC is set on Stun most of the time - otherwise, working on a 100% wook shawl/stole in 165 degree Texas weather is just not for me.

In sock news, I have officially cast on for the RPM socks from Knitty (Summer 2006 issue). I'm using Socks that Rock in the Mystic Kelp colorway. It's kind of cool how they are knitting up - will get pics this weekend - 'cause the RPM pattern spirals down the sock one way - but the color pooling/striping is spiraling down the opposite direction. Part of me thinks it would be cool to have it all spiral together - but the part of me that doesn't like matchy-matchy socks loves that it is opposite!

In dyeing news, I played with some new yarn this weekend - Licorice Twist - and really like the outcome. It has three plys and one of the plys takes up dye completely different from the other two - so there's a twisty effect in it. I swatched with some this week at my Tuesday night group just to see what it would look like and really like it! And it knits up very easily. The color that I was playing with was red with blue and gray - and I think I'll be making the Calorimetry from Knitty (Winter 2006) with it since I'm wanting to do some short row stuff.

Will post more - with pictures - after the weekend.

(Yes, we've warned Rose Path Weaving that we are on our way!!)

p.s. - if anyone knows how to make my sidebar pictures and text appear up here at top and not way down there - let me know. It's driving me crazy!

I'm Going to IRELAND!!

Ok...so it's a "virtual" trip - but it's so very cool!!

My local Knitters group is having a July Vacation Secret Pal Swap - where we send our Spoilee on a trip somewhere.

Today, my "Travel Agent," Blogless Janet, called to say she was going to drop by - and she showed up on my door with not only my travel documents, but also my suitcase.



My Itinerary included stops in Dublin and Belfast, Cork and Doolin, Wesport and Derry with a stop in the Aran Isles where I can learn more and more about Aran patterning. (My agent knows I'm a Cable Ho.)

I opened my suitcase to see what souvenirs I was coming home with and - true to my packing style - that case was STUFFED!



I got so many wonderful things...



I got a few patterns - Aran Braided Socks, a Celtic Cable Scarf, and a Celtic Knot Afghan. As all good travel agents do, Janet knows her "customer" and has read the blog and knows that I'm toying with doing sweaters...so she also got me a wonderful book - "Aran Sweater Design" by Janet Szabo - that looks incredible - not only telling about Aran design, but outlines the anatomy of sweater-making (how to put them together in various ways) and also has a few lovely patterns.

I also got Kraemer Yarns in Eileen - which I've been eyeing at White Rock Weaving, but hadn't tried yet - and Knit Picks Bare Donegal Tweed - another that I've been wanting to play with. Of course, they are all nekkid - so I can also play with the Jacquard Dyes she got me - in Turquoise, Hot Fuchsia and Lilac (PRETTY!). There were some Cable needles, point protectors and a cute little sheep tape measure!

Also, my travel agent knows that I'm trying to learn how to read charts - which will definitely come in handy when I get up the courage to do these cabled sweaters - and she got me the Knit Picks chart keeper and a needle sizer!

On the goodie front - 'cause what's a vacation without goodies - I got some Irish Breakfast Tea, a couple of mixes for Scones and Soda Bread, some Ghirardelli dark chocolate and some Lily O'Brien's (of course) Chocolate Coated Toffees. yum!

And last, but not least, I got some lovely stitch markers that she made:

*

Thanks, Janet!! You are a FABULOUS "travel agent" - and I'd recommend you to ANYONE!

*(yes, my cedar chest is scratched...it's old, like me.)

We Take A Break From Regular Scheduled Knitting And Dyeing...

...and I think someone's trying to tell me that this shouldn't include a break from puppy love.*

* Not that I can't pet and love at the same time - she just demands undivided attention...

Oh Thank Heaven - for Kwik E Mart?

Had a great day yesterday!

Spent the morning with my Alek going to breakfast and walking around (ok...down one street - but for me less than 2 months out from hip replacement surgery - it was a major milestone!) Downtown McKinney. We love it there - had breakfast at Aparicio's and then walked over to Mom & Popcorn - which has all of the cool candies we knew as a child - from wax lips to pop rocks to taffys - and the popcorn! Oh the popcorn! They have about 45 different flavors of popcorn. I try to get a different flavor each time - just to try. Today was Creamy dill - amazingly good! And, of course, I had to get the cheese popcorn to bring home. I do believe it's the best cheese popcorn I've ever eaten. YUM!

Then a couple of friends came over and we drove down to Dallas where we did partake in the Beer Biscuits at Barbec's and then visited White Rock Weaving. The place was crowded!! They were having a looming class where they took chunks or strips of roving to weave between the strings to make a picture. It was so much fun to watch! We shopped the store - and I actually walked out of there without anything this time!! (Yay, Liz!) Not that I didn't WANT some of the things. :) She has started carrying the Kraemer yarns - which I love - including the Tatamy Tweed in several colors. Blogless Betty is making (or heck, with Betty, she's probably already MADE) a sweater out of this and I might just copy her and make one, too. (That's the 2nd time now I've blogged about making a sweater...I'm thinking this might actually happen.)

After WRW, we went to Passionknit in Snider Plaza. I said I was going there for one set of needles...I wanted the biggest circs I could find - needle size and length wise. They were having a sale and 20% off needles was a part of that! Amazingly, I came out of there with only that one circ (Size 19 - 47 inch circs) - and nothing more! (And with yarn on sale - big sales - I just almost wanted to pat myself on the back for getting only what I came in there for!)

On the way home, we were at a red light and looked to the left and there was a Kwik E Mart!!!


Now, I don't watch the Simpsons religiously - but I've been known to watch and giggle at it a time or four. But I think it's a hoot that 7-11 Stores have transformed 11 of their US stores - and one in Canada - into the Kwik E Mart to promote the upcoming Simpson's movie - complete with "life-sized" cutouts of the characters, Krusty O's cereal and Squishee drinks.





And I love all of the little details they did come up with - such as the Bank's sign and the labels for the donuts.





The lines inside were CRAZY - both for the Squishee machine and the cashier - so we didn't buy anything. But it was fun to go in and just see it all.

Once we got home, we broke out the dye and nekkid yarn 'cause I need to do some more Knit Clinic yarns so I can update the shop a little. My buddies had to leave and couldn't dye - but then my goddaughter and her mom (my best bud from high school) came over and "helped" me by watching and oohing and ahhing over colors.

They aren't dry yet - but here's a taste of what's coming...



Yes, it was a very pink and green day - and I can't wait to see what they look like reskeined and in the shop!

On a final note - I can't remember if I've said how happy I am for my friend Becky! She gets to go to China in less than 2 weeks - to get her baby girl!! Go here to read about her upcoming trip - and keep her and Dean in your thoughts and prayers as they make this wonderful journey!!

Can't wait to meet her, Becky!!!

A Quick Thank You

I keep forgetting - shame on me - to take the time to send a "Thank You" to my SP 10 Pal - Nicole.

I can't wait to knit some socks with that Regia Cotton - I've really been wanting to try it!

Thanks, Nicole! It's been a hoot for my first SP 10 participation!

I frighten myself...

Just a short year ago, I saw someone doing the Lady Eleanor Entrelac shawl/wrap and thought, "I'll never do that!!" Now I am and am loving it...

Just a few short months ago, I sat with Alissa and Manda at the Fiber Fest and said, "I can never do a sweater..." Alissa said, "Sure you can!" and I said, "No...don't have the patience."

But now I look at that Lady E that I'm almost 2/3 of the way through (pics to follow) and I said, "This has got to be as many stitches as a sweater..." (Becky and Blogless Betty say MORE.)

And then today, I was at Half Price Books and got a bunch of books to look through while drinking my java and when I got to the table and sat down, noticed that every single book was a SWEATER book.

I frighten myself...and must now go cast on Socks...

...which I also said I'd never do.

This will be my 5th pair...

This Dyeing Thing...

So, y'all know I've been playing with the nekkid yarns and dyes...and that it's become a passion of mine - some would say an obsession.

So...I've taken some of this nekkid yarn - and mixed it with some of those professional type acid dyes - and Viola!



Knit Clinic Yarns is now a real live Etsy shop!

Stop by and have a gander!

Thanks to all who have encouraged this craziness - I'm really having fun with it!

SP10 - Package #3

I heard a knock on the door yesterday and it was my friendly postman - delivering a box.

Now I THOUGHT it was a present that I had bought for my goddaughter on ebay weeks ago - but no, it still hasn't arrived.

It was my final package from my SP10 Pal.




It's a Clover Bamboo Needle Keeper, some Burt's Bee's Raspberry Lip Gloss, a Necklace and a Woolite Sample.

Can't wait for the reveal to see who my pal is!

I can sit again...

...at least long enough to post a bit. (And warning - it's pic heavy.)

Hip surgery is not exactly fun...but I'm making it and up and walking with the help of my trusty cane. (I actually forgot it last night when walking from the bathroom to the bed...yes, it's only about 9 feet - but I did it unassisted!

It's been four weeks tomorrow since surgery and while I'm not quite where I want to be, I'm not in the same kind of pain that I was in - and this is a good thing!

My Knitters really helped take care of me through all of this - Elizabeth and Annise came to see me in the hospital and brought plants and goodies. Hanane, Annise and Andrea came to visit and brought dinner. Becky, Betty and Tasha visited, brought goodies and helped me watch movies. And I would get daily calls, emails and cards from different ones - just letting me know that they were thinking about me. You can't imagine how much that means!

The worst part about the whole thing was the lack of a good knitting position. I found it impossible to knit laying on my back...which was the worst torture ever. Having all of this time off - and not being able to knit a stitch.

Which was double terrible 'cause of all of this that came to me in my stupor:



This beautiful yarn by White Willow in the Avalon colorway from Becky. (Who recently got the bestest news ever!) I think she made the stitch markers - she's so crafty!

Also - probably the most useful thing she brought me was this:



This little "Go Knit" Pouch from KnowKnits.com was the handiest thing - it snapped to my walker and I could carry my knitting around the house - and it doubled as "purse" to carry my wallet when I needed to leave the house for the doc's office, etc. It comes in multiple sizes and every knitter should definitely have one - you don't even have to be using a walker!! ;)

This beautiful Sunshine Yarns "Cup O' Joe" colorway from Blogless Betty. (This is a TERRIBLE pic of this yarn - it's rich brown and taupe colors - like a yummy cup of coffee...this makes it look much more orange than it is...) Miss Betty also send me the most luscious Brownies EVER - they are so rich and yummy.

And this beautiful Sophie's Toes "American Patchwork" from Tasha (along with a cool blue jean knitting bag and some stuff to help with my dyeing!) (Tasha also "helped" me in this difficult time of being laid up at the exact time that all of the local yarn stores were having these huge sales by going and buying me the things I "needed" or picking up the things had already purchased over the phone.)

This American Patchwork has been the first yarn that I can ever recall it "Talking to me." I've heard of this phenomenon - wherein a knitter hears a yarn calling to her to knit it up...even telling her what the pattern must be.

Well, let me just say that this yarn is also schizophrenic. First it wanted to be a pattern out of More Sensational Socks...then it wanted to be Jaywalkers (which is what is on the needles above...) As of this morning, I have frogged the Jaywalkers and am officially putting the yarn in Time Out. She's beautiful - but a little out of her mind. ;)

Once I was able to be upright in my recliner, I was able to finish my Monkey socks. I love Love LOVED this pattern and was not sick of it by the second sock...which is a major accomplishment. (I don't know if pain drugs had anything to do with this...but I'm takin' it as I can get it!)

They really aren't for someone with club feet - they fit my size 9's perfectly! I just need to break down and get me some blockers!! They are my first pair that are for me Me ME!! (Done in Lorna's Laces in the Aslan colorway!)

Right after surgery, I got home to a package that I had ordered from one of the knitters in our local group - Teresa is making these BEAUTIFUL sock bags to look like turtles and Froggies...

Meet Lilly! She makes me giggle.







I really can't let this thing end without mentioning my "nursing staff."

Alek has been such a love - doing things that he probably didn't realize he'd have to do when he said "I Do" six years ago.

My Mama - I still wish she hadn't gone home last week. ;) She was so good about everything - doing Mama work - and more. I know we drive her crazy at times - but I so appreciated all of the cooking and cleaning and caretaking she did.

Oh...and this is my Sabine - the one who has become my best nursemaid and therapy dog...



She looks all cute there in that pic - but when she's pushing me to do my Physical Therapy, she's all business! (The PT who came to the house wanted to take her with her as a therapy dog...she's such a love!)

...now back to knitting. I got the Jojoland Rhythm in the M26 colorway. (Fastest ebay shipping ever - paid for it Friday, got it Saturday! I know I live close to the woman, but still!)

This is what it looked like on the auction:



This is what I got.



Now... I love it! I also know it bears very little resemblance to the picture on the auction. I also know that this yarn has many layers and that those colors in the original picture will eventually show up. Just for you, I am digging in a ball to give an example:



I'm going to try to do the Lady Eleanor Shawl from "Scarf Style." After taking the Knitting Fairy's Entrelac class at the DFW Fiber Fest, I think I can do it! And I love this yarn...and think it will be a beautiful shawl with it!

Of course with me, we'll just have to see how bored I get with it. ;)

We all know I have Knitting ADD.

Thanks again for everyone's Thoughts and Prayers. They have meant the world to me...

What to do with nervous energy...

So, some of you know - but most don't - that I've been walking with a cane for the last month or so. The hip has finally gotten to the point where I can't stand the pain - and walking is definitely much easier with it - so I've faced the music and have been using the wretched thing probably 75% of the time.

Long story short - I go in tomorrow for a hip resurfacing - if they can't do it, they'll do a total replacement. At my age - 40 - we are keeping fingers crossed for the resurfacing. (Hey, me and Floyd Landis (Tour de France winner) ...hip buddies) In any case - beginning tomorrow at 10:30 or so, there will be a whole new life for me...things will be slow at first - and painful - but it will be a new kind of pain - and eventually, a brand new life with lots of possibilities.

So...thus the nervous energy...

So...what do I do with nervous energy?

...well, this time, I made dishcloths - that's what.


The Infamous DW cloth


And then two random cloths - one is the waffle pattern and one is a takeoff of the Horcrux zig zag - just 'cause I liked that pattern on those socks. (Yes, there are two design elements in there...have no clue what I was thinking there. I must have YO'd on a purl side. Oh well - it's just going to clean my grimy dishes...so it'll do!

Til I get back from the hospital - y'all have a great week!

SP10 - Package #2 - and a random FO

Quick housekeeping - or blogkeeping? - Somehow, I turned off my comments last week - they are back again - so comment away!

Now...to the good stuff...

Earlier in the week, I got a cute postcard from my SP10 Pal from her trip to California - to the JellyBelly place. How fun!! Sounds like you had a great trip!

Then yesterday, I got a nice surprise in the mail in the form of this:



I got a book "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd with a bookmark that, if I don't use as a bookmark, I can plant it and it has seeds embedded in it. (We all know my luck with plants - so we'll probably have a bookmark for years to come! HA!), some Nestle Smarties candies, a cute little heart-shaped slinky toy, two skeins of Regia Plus Cotton Color in light denim and khaki colors - these will be great for summer socks and will look great with jeans! - and a vintage sock pattern book!

Thanks, Secret Pal!!

In FO news, I finished the Horcrux Socks I was working on - using the Cleckheaton Tapestry 8-ply yarn.




I swear - they look obscene - but they fit like socks!! So, I declare them socks!


I enjoyed making them - and hope their recipient will enjoy them, too.

A Bit of Ketchup

Forgive me - for I have been remiss in my blogging - so I'm taking this huge post to catch up on the knitting life...

I've not mentioned the DFW Fiber Fest yet. What a treat - this was my first year to really participate further than shopping the booths. I was there every day - and really enjoyed it!

Now it's not Stitches - or one of the big Sheep and Wool gatherings - but it was a great little event for this area's 2nd year Fest.

Friday night, we had major weather here in DFW - a factor which seems to be a common occurrence here these days - and by the time dinner time rolled around, the Tornado sirens were going off and we were all herded into the interior of the building to wait out the storm. My buddy Manda and I had gone for the fashion show that night and we just sat there and knit through the chaos just outside our doors. Are we Texans or what?

Once the threat was over - no major damage in our area happened - the Fashion Show commenced and it was entertaining to say the least. I wish I had brought my camera - 'cause, well, mere words cannot describe the things we saw!

On Saturday, I returned to the scene to take a class with Tasha (and we rooked our friend - Blogless Kathy into taking it, too) taught by our dear friend, The Knitting Fairy. We learned how to do Entrelac! It is so cool!! I love this technique! It looks like woven strips of stockinette -



The class project was a small bag that could be felted or just kept as is. I've finished the body of the bag, but haven't woven in the ends or knit the handle. It's on my to-do list.

I want to do this scarf now - just have to find (or dye) just the right yarn for it!

Sunday, I went back to take a class taught by Lily Chin herself! The class was called "Reversible Cables" and it was about technique and chart reading and designing.

Friday night, after the Fashion Show, I had gone up to talk to her to ask what the homework for the class was since I had just signed up. The room had been very cold that night and I had borrowed the scarf that I had made for my boss last Christmas - you know - this one



Anyway - I was wearing this as I talked to her and she said, "Make sure you bring your scarf to class!!" I just about squee'd right there - but kept my composure because a.) I'm cool like that (HA!) and b.) I just knew she wanted to have it as an example of what NOT to do!

When we got to class, she asked, "Ok, who had the red scarf on Friday night?" I pulled it out and she came over - took a few glances at it - and then went about teaching. When it came time to do show and tell with her things, she brought them all around for everyone to see - and then grabbed mine and gave it as an example, too!! A GOOD example!! I just about wet myself!!

Of course, I didn't have camera with me this day either...'cause evidently my photography mind was clouded by my knitting mind - so I didn't get any pics of Ms. Chin - but I had a pattern of hers that she signed!



It says - "Hi Liz, Happy Knitting - Think Dirty! Lily Chin" You just had to be there!

I tell you what - both classes were well worth the money - I learned so much - and these were first rate teachers! The next few years of the Fest promise to have even more great teachers - starting next year with Joan Schroeder...

Which brings me to this past weekend.

Our LYS - the Woolie Ewe - is having "The Year of the Knitting Designer" and has had some great designers show up to teach - one of whom is Joan Schroeder.

This past weekend, Joan came to town and taught two days of the "Toe Up Sock Class." I took the Saturday class along with Tasha, Lise, Becky, Blogless Betty and Susanne. (We also met Regina while we were there - she was camera ready and took pics of our little socklets that are on her blog.)

Joan's an incredible teacher, too - and I loved this class - even if it DID require some math. I feel like I can tackle any sock pattern now, too. I got doubly lucky 'cause Joan is a friend of Blogless Betty and I was able to have dinner with lovely Joan a couple of nights while she was here. She's a sweetheart - if you ever get a chance to take her class - sign up quick!

In other yarny news, my buddy went to NYC and all I got was these two lousily beautiful skeins of KOIGU!!



And while at the abovementioned Sock class - I bought - shocker, I know - SOCK YARN! This is a Lorna's Laces colorway I've seen online and thought I'd like because I like the name (Big C.S. Lewis fan here) - but now know I LOVE it!!

I show you - ASLAN!



These will be socks for ME! I may do them in Monkey...because I am a sheep...baaa

That's what got me into My So Called Scarf - which is now an FO!!



Even Sabine likes it!!

And finally - I have dyed some - these are last Sunday's efforts...minus one that is going to live in California with Manda...you can see it on her blog.



I see a lot of knitting time in my future...more on that later.

Another April FO

I finally finished another something - a pair of socks that I've worked on for about a month and a half.



They are done using the Nasturtium pattern from Kristen at Through The Loops. (Happy Blogiversary, Kristen!) I used one of the skeins of yarn that I dyed in my dyeing class at Simpatico back in February. It had shorter yardage - 280 yds - so I wanted to do a shorter pair of socks and these fit the bill! Great pattern - a good kind of easy for a beginning sock knitter. (And, thankfully, done on 2 circs so I didn't have to do math.)

I do love the sock knitting, though - just bought More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlotte Schurch and am waiting on the delivery of Favorite Socks by Ann Budd and Anne Merrow. And I got the Yarn Harlot's books - The Yarn Harlot and Casts Off. Hopefully her stories will inspire more sock knitting.

Also had a dyeing day on Saturday. This time we used the acid dyes and I can definitely tell that I will love Love LOVE the results with using them with the superwash. The colors are so incredible!!



The favorites that I did were these two:


(which my friends call Safari - and my hubby calls Army Brat)

And this one:



For which I have no name - but I'm sure Dawn or Lise or Someone will come up with one for me! ;)

I've ordered a ball winder and a swift - so hopefully I can get these in this week and then next weekend play with reskeining them to see what they "really" look like!

Now...to take off these socks. It's Texas and April, by gum - which means wool socks are HOT. UGH!

But they sure are pretty!!

100 Books

Look at the list of (100) books below.
Bold the ones you’ve read.
Italicize the ones you own.

Movies don’t count.

Ok...I've read 42 of them (if I can also add correctly) - and the sad thing is that with the exception of the Bible and the Harry Potter Books - all have been read PKL - Pre-knitting life. Now if I "read" a book, it's with my ears and iPod. :)

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell) (I actually own a first edition - not first printing, though)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25 . Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible (Only parts)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

What happens when your Yarn Conscience Takes a Week Off to See Mickey

So, my buddy and yarn conscience, Tasha, took off on Monday to see a certain Mouse - so my willpower was weakened...but I was going to be good - I really was.

But then my other buddy, Manda, had some car problems that HAD to be fixed - so she lovingly destashed some of her lovely yarns. Now Manda, the girl has the good stuff!! And she had Schaefer Anne - in Purples - that she managed to take just the worst picture of so no one could see it's true loveliness...and no one bought it - and no one bought it - and no one bought it...so, without my yarn conscience to guide me, I did.

See what you non-buyers missed out on??



This may go to my secret pal - if I can pry it out of my stash in June for the big reveal gift - so then it wouldn't count for buying yarn. (There must be SOME of the yarn conscience that was left behind...)

And then - well, the yarn conscience can't bust me for this one.

After a particularly weird week I've had, yet another buddy, Becky, appointed herself my NSSP - Not So Secret Pal - and brought me these wonderful things!



Yep! It's VESPER!!! In the Love Stinks (Yeah! Yeah!) colorway! Squee!!!!

But best of all - these!!!!!


They are the most adorable stitch markers - instructions for the Kitchener Stitch. I've seen them at the Girl on the Rocks Etsy shop forever and have wanted them - and now they are mine - alllllll mine! They are the cutest little shrinky-dink type thing I've ever seen...Double Squeee!

So - all in all, one part my fault, one part helping out a friend and two parts gifty equal some yummy yarny goodness for a pretty good week!

And this weekend is the DFW Fiber Fest and I am going to go to the Vendor Area and Show on Friday evening and hope to take some classes if they are available when I walk up...and well, did you see that word "vendor area."

Yep...I'm just going to take down the "X number of days, hours, minutes, seconds since I bought yarn" clock 'til after this weekend...'cause, well, 'cause I don't even want to pretend!!!

Adventures in Felting

So far in my knitting career (career, 'cause I've brought in so much money with it so far), I've avoided the whole felting craze...

I mean, why knit knit knit knit knit knit knit (and no purls, mind you) on something for days to make this humongo something - just to stick it in the washer and have it shrink into some piece of fabric like you'd use in Sunday School with paper cutouts of Disciples stuck to it.

(Not that the Disciples aren't worth my work, mind you...)

But - when the knitting horde was traipsing around East Texas while on our retreat, I succumbed to the "OH MY GOODNESS - NORO! On SALE!! 30% OFF!!!! MUST BUY!!!" mania that hit the group. (We even called Manda to make sure we had enough skeins...to make the ever popular - if not so "last year" - Booga Bag.)

Did I think I'd actually knit this thing??

No....because A. See above.

And B. I have never ever knit in the round. (I don't count socks because those are done on 2 needles.) I've avoided joining things and "picking up stitches" like - well, like felting.

Until last week - I was stuck out with no socks to knit on, no nekkid yarn to dye (ok, so I was sitting at Starbucks and truth be told, there was probably nekkid yarn, colors AND vinegar in my car - but didn't figure Starbucks would appreciate me using their bathroom and espresso steamers for this purpose) and one of those Noro balls, a size 10.5 circ that I had bought with the express purpose of furthering my supplies to NOT knit this bag...and I actually had the pattern with me.

SO - I began to knit knit knit knit knit knit - and did not purl.

Then I picked up stitches (I guess confidence has been gained in this from my learning to do socks and having to pick up around the gusset) and I knit knit knit knit knit knit knit knit knit some more - alas, still no purling.

We won't even talk about the 500 miles of i-cord for the handle....just 'cause I actually enjoy i-cord. (Should I admit that - considering what the "i" stands for??)

Anyway...I ended up with this:



So - off we go to the washer. Now, the only "zippered" pillowcase I have is one from a throw pillow from the couch. Those pillow cases needed a good washing - so I thought, No problem! I'll use those.

And someone told me that when I felted them that I needed to put a pair of jeans in the wash with the pillowcase...so I grabbed one of the hubby's pair that needed a washing and walked away.

The thing about the pillow cases from the couch - pillow cases that my Armenian Mother-in-law gave us - pillowcases of questionable origin (not that they are stolen - just don't know what country they came from) - pillowcases for which the dye used in the fabric has not necessarily been "set."

The thing about those pillow cases - is that they bleed...And the orange and burgundy pillowcases - they seem to bleed...pink.

So, seriously now...How long do you think I can keep these newly pinkish/lavender jeans from hubby??



Better yet, what kind of things can I accuse him of doing in the jeans to make them that way???

(I figure I can keep this a secret just about as long as I was able to try to deny the fact that my leaving the lights on in the car while I napped this morning was the reason the car wouldn't start when I needed to drive on to work.)

The good news in all of this is - the pillowcases - they bled on the outside - all over his pants.

But my Booga Bag?

The one on the inside of the pillow case?

The one I knit knit knit knit knit knit knit knit knit and did not purl on?

It's so cute!! (And not pinkish a bit - except where it was intended to be!!)



I may felt again...but think I'll buy a white zippered pillow case for future felting adventures...

Maybe I can pick it up when I go shopping for blue jeans....

SP10 - First Package Arrived

I got my first package for SP10 today.




I got a "Cool Scarf Kit" from Bernat with Boa and Boucle yarns, some floating candles shaped like dragonflies, a piece of dark mint chocolate (sorry - it got eaten before I found the camera), a handknit beanie, some shower cleaner coupons and some really cute pewter demi-vases.

Thanks Secret Pal.

Reskeining

We've had a discussion in one of my groups about whether or not a hand-dyed yarn should be reskeined - and if it did the yarn any "good."

This past weekend, I reskeined some of my yarns that I've dyed recently and I can give a resounding YES - it does the yarn GOOD!

Before:



And After:


I love the way it looks reskeined - gives me more of an idea of how the colors really work - or don't work - together and how they will look when they are knit up.

But the yarn that pushed me over to the "It MUST be reskeined" school of thought was this ugly mess that I dyed for my friend Lise at our retreat. (To be fair, Lise never thought that it was ugly - only I did.)

But it turned into this when reskeined...





Go read her blog for more reskeining and dyeing fun!

This is the other skein I dyed this weekend - I'm liking it more and more - and hoping that it will reskein as something I really like - if not - it's back to the dye bath. It's a different fiber - not superwash. It's 50/50 Merino and Silk - and this fiber just seems to mute the colors more than the superwash does. I'm liking it more and more - just because it produces something "different."




And lest you think I'm only dyeing - I'm also knitting...I'm still working on the Socks using the other yarn I dyed and My So Called Scarf. I'd like to finish it before the end of March - but don't know that I will.

I did finish a bunny for my new Goddaughter, Dot.


I hope it's something she will be able to carry around for years - knowing that I made it especially for her.

Our Anniversary

March 17 was our 6th anniversary. We got married March 17, 2001, in Jefferson, TX in the Excelsior House courtyard (yes, I first typed that as courtyarn.... I think I have an obsession.) surrounded by friends and family.

A couple of days before our anniversary this year, we got a call letting us know that we could have a condo through our timeshare for a weekend down in the hill country of Texas. We grabbed the chance and packed a bag and left after work on Friday for Canyon Lake.



Saturday, I spent the morning letting Alek sleep in - his weekday work schedule has him up early every day, so Saturdays are his days to sleep. I, however, can't seem to sleep very late anymore - so I went downstairs and dyed some yarn. HA! (I know this shocks everyone!)



Manda has named the one on the right "Amber Waves of Grain" and the one on the left is "Circus Freak."

After Alek got up and got ready, we went into Austin for Breakfast at Kerby Lane Cafe - YUMMO! If you ever go I have 2 items - both appetizers - that are must buys - Kerbylicious Soft Nachos and the Sweet Potato Fries...



And then we drove around town and wanted to go to this coffeehouse on South Congress that we'd read would let us take Sabine with us. (She did get to come on the trip with us.)

Well, it was the last weekend of SXSW in Austin - and Jo's Coffeehouse was one of the venues for some of the bands - SO, South Congress was PACKED and very hard to find parking - but we found it - and where do you think we found it - right on the side street that brought us out to



Yes, even the car knows where the knitting/yarn shops are!!!

I was good and didn't ask to go in right away (but did check the door to see what time they closed...) and we walked down and back up S. Congress - looking at shops, listening to bands and enjoying the beautiful weather. (You can see in the Hill Country Weaver's sign above how clear of a day it was!)

As we got back towards the car when Sabine had really tired out, I did go inside HCW while they went to get the car - thinking I do need some Chibis....and honestly had every intention of not looking at anything else - yarn diet and all - but the very evil saleslady walked me by their "just in" shipment of Koigu...so THIS is what Alek got me for our anniversary.



(He didn't know he got it for me 'til the next morning - but I finally fessed up.)

That night, we went to the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood - which has to be some of the best BBQ in the world...



Sunday morning - we checked out of the resort, went to Austin Java Company for a delicious breakfast with some of the best coffee ever, drove around Austin some more and then headed home - along with what must have been close to the entire population of North Texas AND Oklahoma - if not Kansas...since our little 3 hour drive expectancy turned into close to 8...Finally got off in Hillsboro and went up the backroads to Fort Worth. (The hold up probably was 2 miles ahead of where we turned off - but by that time, we just wanted to be moving!!)

We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend - and here's hoping for another year or fifty with this loving man of mine!!

Retreat and Dye!!

I thought this had posted a couple of weeks ago - Guess I should check out my own blog every now and then!!
******************************************************************

I just spent an awesome knitterly weekend with a group of friends at a lovely retreat center in East Texas called Arabella Gardens.

It was a lovely center out in the country set up like a B&B with lots of farm life - chickens, roosters, ducks, dogs - just outside the door.



There were about 10 of us altogether and we had such a relaxing time - knitting and chatting and just enjoying being away from everything.

The food was beyond every expectation - in a good way! A VERY good way. There were even conversations about getting glasses of the salad dressing to eat/drink by itself. It was THAT good. (We didn't, though, I promise!)

We got there on Friday night - people straggling in until about 7 or so - then we were all there in time for dinner. We arrived to lovely gift bags on our beds with everything from yarn to hand lotions and candles and Lambs' Ears - Lovely little fuzzy headbands with lambs ears on them. And yes - all of us grown women wore them all weekend!



Saturday morning, we got up to a scrumptious breakfast and then packed the cars to head "into town" for - what else - some yarn shopping!

We went to a little shop called Rose Path Weaving in Lindale and took it by storm! The ladies there are just the most friendly, wonderful people and they made special sales for our group and, quite possibly, made their entire income goal for the month with our group alone.

Rose Path is a great source for yarny goodness in East Texas - and has looms and spinning supplies - and lots of nekkid yarn - which does the heart of this novice dyer good!





They have lots of yummy yarn flavors and the most adorable mascot - Sandy


After Rose Path, we went to Wally World to get some stuff - 'cause you know that's what Wally World is good for - and it wasn't until we were out in the car that I realized that I had been walking around the store for all of East Texas to see with - yes, you guessed it! Lamb Ears on my head!!! (Let me just say I was NOT the only one who got the stares....ahem...)

Now let me say - the week leading up to this retreat had been one of the more stressful weeks that I have ever experienced on a personal level and I needed this time away. It could not have been planned at a better time. I honestly don't think I actually knit more than 10 rows on anything all weekend - BUT, I did get to dye.

I brought all of my dyeing supplies with me and spent a good deal of Saturday night dyeing not only my own nekkid yarn - but also the nekkid yarn that others had bought at Rosepath. These trusting souls just handed me their yarn and said, "Play!" It was the best medicine that anyone could give me...the relaxation factor was 11 on a scale of 1-10.

These are our yarns drying in the morning light...and all of them skeined up for their photo ops!


On Sunday afternoon, we left Garden Valley more relaxed - one of us with very purple hands - having laughed and giggled so much our tummies hurt and wanting to know when we were going to do it again.

I wondered if those animals thought we were the craziest they had ever seen - with our lamb ears on all weekend - but, I think the picture I got of the cat confirmed their feelings...



Crazy Women!

SP10 Questionnaire!

I did it! I joined the SP10 Secret Pal Exchange - and really look forward to spoiling my SP!

For the one who got me - here are the answers!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

SOCK YARN! Right now - I'm loving the yummy multi-colored sock yarns out there - mostly superwash with a bit o' nylon thrown in there. I also enjoy the "nekkid" yarns so I can play with the dyes. I love cotton and silks to work with, also.

I'm not so big on scratchy wool and have been known to begrudingly work with acrylics - but usually only like it for baby things. Basically, I don't consider acrylics "good yarn."

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Alas, I have no real organization here (much to my DH's chagrin!). I try to keep the Addi's in their sleeves, but otherwise, there's one of the old fashioned knitting baskets sitting next to my chair that the needles are just poked down into 'til I need them.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for almost exactly 2 years. I went to a class at a local shop with a group I belonged to and was immediately hooked. I joined a local knitting group and have learned so much from the ladies in this group. I would consider myself intermediate in my skills.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I do have an Amazon Wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I like most scents - except vanilla and rose. There are some new Bath & Body Works scents that are intriguing to me like the Japanese Cherry Blossom and Midnight Pomegranate.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Dark Dark Chocolate- the darker the better! Also love nuts of almost any sort - just not crazy about Walnuts or Brazil Nuts.


7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I don't spin - figure others are much more gifted in that area and I'll just take the finished product, thank you! I do love to dye - it's becoming a passion!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like most music in very limited amounts - mostly jazz, blues and, yes, country. I've got an iPod full of music but usually listen to podcasts and Audio books.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?


I love all colors - especially if they have been mixed together well. I'm not opposed to solids - but love a great variegated or striping yarn.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I'm married to a wonderful man - March 17 is our 6 year anniversary - and we have a 14 year old cat named Barton and a 3 year old Schnug - 1/2 schnauzer 1/2 pug - named Sabine who thinks she rules the roost. DH and I are looking to adopt in the near future and are researching our options at this point.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I love scarves - they aren't just for knitting! Hats, occasionally. Mittens and Ponchos, never.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love to knit scarves and socks - mostly socks right now.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Do you want the whole list??? HA! Right now, on the needles are a "My So Called Scarf," a pair of socks using some yarn that I dyed, a "Beads of Earth" scarf from "Scarf Style" and a bunny for my new Goddaughter.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

I love it!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I love my Lantern Moon rosewood size 11's but usually I prefer either the shorter aluminum straights by Susan Bates - 10 inches or shorter - or metal circs with great cords. I love my addi turbos and have one set of 2 size 3 Knit Picks circs - and am itchin' to get some more of these knit picks needles in the US 1 and 2 sock sizes.

Absolutely hate dpns - except for doing i-cord or using them in a pinch. But socks were an "I'll never do those!" until I found a socks on 2 circs class!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I do not - but they are definitely on my list of things to save for!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

My oldest UFO is probably about 6 months old - everything else, I've finished or frogged.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving - love being around family!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Does yarn count???

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I want the new "Favorite Socks" book and can't wait for the "More Sensational Knitted Socks" to get on the shelves. I've never actually owned one of the Yarn Harlot books and they are on my list of things I'd like to add to the library.

I don't have any knitting magazine subscriptions but do buy some on occasion from the bookstore. Honestly, most just have very few patterns I'd actually do!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'd like to hone my dyeing skills and knowledge. I love cables and keep trying to learn new kinds of cable patterns.

I'm interested in Magic Loop sock knitting - but am trying to master the socks on 2 circs methods first.

I've also never knit a hat - the old "I hate dpns" thing. BUT, I'm thinking I can just do the Hat on 2 circs method and figure it out.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yep - I do consider myself a sock knitter. I wear a size 9 shoe and have "thick" calves (Isn't that a nice way to say fat? HA!) so I usually just knit myself ankle socks.

23. When is your birthday?

October 8

Buying and Dyeing...

So I keep talking about the Stash Enhancements - and have come to the realization that I just don't need a whole lot more until I start actually knitting up some that I have - so these are my latest - and last - purchases for a bit.

The Colinette Jitterbug Sahara, Yarn Ahoy's Royal Peacocks (Just got this before she went on vacation!), and Lazy Perry Ranch's "Skye".

I love the Lazy Perry Ranch's yarns - she really has an eye for color. I love the way she matches the yarn to the colors in the picture - like the goat for this yarn.



So right now - with the exception of my yarn buying excursion during our local group's retreat this weekend - I'm only buying blanks.

After my dyeing class at Simpatico - I'm hooked. I love the dyeing - watching the colors appear and meld together to form beautiful yarns like I find on Etsy - it's so much fun!

Using water, vinegar and Wilton's cake icing colors and a little microwave magic, I was able to turn these



into These:



The first 2 were done in the class at Simpatico Yarns in Bedford - and the third one I did as a stress relief project this weekend. I think I like it best! It is definitely more purple than the picture shows - I should have taken that pic in natural light, too.

I've cast on with the blue/green yarn on the left - and this is how it's turning out.



So far - I'm loving it!!

I have a SUPER Secret Pal...

...well, she's not so secret since I saw her drop it off - but my DFW Chicks with Sticks group has had a neat swap this February - and I got gifted GOOD - from the Knitting Fairy herself!!



Beautiful hand dyed yarn, a row counter bracelet, a Cherry Tree Hill sock pattern called Brickyard Joe Socks (which is so funny just 'cause they are lacy socks called Brickyard Joe!), a dark chocolate bunny* (YUM!) and one of those cool tool bags that I've been wanting!!

And you see those cute little things at the bottom???



PENGUIN Stitch markers!!!

I love Love LOVE it all!!

Thanks, Knitting Fairy! For being the Best (Not so) Secret Pal ever!!


*I walked into the house with a bag FULL of yarn - some that I'd bought and some that I'd been gifted - and all Alek said was, "Is that CHOCOLATE???" That's my man!!

Ruby's Slippers...

Ok...well, they are really Ruby's socks...


and a sock for her iPod Nano to match her real socks.

Last month I had so many FO's that this month seems so paltry - although I did finish the blankie...

I guess I either had more time last month or just was closer to the end of a bunch of things than I am this month.

Anyway...this may be it for this month...

SEX* after work., a Few WIPs and a Haiku

Gee - can that sound any more dirty?? Sex and W(h)ips? I can just see my Mama reading this and having her eyes bug... :)

Anyway...Left work this afternoon and actually had the car with me downtown so I made a quick detour to the Shabby Sheep for a little

Stash Enhancing eXpedition.

These lovely items came home with me...


The lovely Sock yarn is from Madeline Tosh. She's put some things on consignment with the Sheep and they have evidently flown out the door! This was the next to the last skein - and I almost brought both home (different colorways)... but this one is called "Fig and Plum." The other two skeins are Manos del Uruguay - I want to do "My So-called Scarf."

Another addition to the Stash came from winning my DFW Chicks with Sticks group's January Finished Objects Contest. This lovely skein of Socks That Rock "January One" colorway is now safely ensconced in my stash...and I love it!



And now for the Works In Progress...

One finished and one in progress sock - my 2nd real pair - using Regia. They are for a friend at work - she wanted socks for her birthday.

(Lise, tell the Big Texan I'm officially placing a sock blocker order!!)

Also Sock #1 of the Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy using one of the patternways from Sensational Knitted Socks.


and the Beads of Earth Scarf (from Scarf Style) using Classic Elite Wool BamBoo elicits this Haiku.

Love the yarn and love the beads
Hate Stockinette Stitch
Will I ever finish this?