Fiber Fanatiks Party

Come ye Merry Fiber Fanatiks, come enjoy the time...
with gifts of wool and yarn and stuff, good thing it's not a crime.
We gather with our kindred spirit...Ok enough with the Carols..as the photos to the right will reveal we had an awful time...awful fun time that is. Once again eating and laughing and just having a good time. I do want to Thank all of the women that come from so far..it would be a loss with out all of you. Everyone exchanged gifts and this time we had poetic justice...for all of our Susan fans...a few years back at our Christmas gift exchange it was my turn to pick a gift. I approach the table full of beautifully wrapped gifts and the excitement was overwhelming me...I carefully look for the perfect gift...the cute one..that one over there behind all of the others...that's the one. With great anticipation..I pull out the tissue paper on the top of the gift bag and gently put my hand deep into the bag so not to break anything that could break and my hand automatically recoils in a panic...it was cold and wet. What the heck was it? It smelled good? I tip the bag to peak in, and lo and behold in the bottom is a felt covered bar of soap that I'm sure Susan was felting while she was driving on her way there, meanwhile talking on her cell phone and going to the Post Office and putting in her contacts, balancing her check book and painting her toenails. She is one multi tasker..... We never let Susan forget that one...well ,guess what Susan got ? the damp felted bag made by Eugenie....!!! Awww Poetic Justice!!! Those little aliens pictured above are long lost toys that my DSIL had as a child. We found them on ebay and they are Little Kiddles Kosmik Kiddles? She thinks we were weird when we were kids...she used to chew on their feet? Hhmmmmm so Cheryl is very happy to have them in her hands. Tonight they are walking all over her kitchen table and their weddings (Kozmik Kiddles) are being planned as soon as they can find suitable housing...she married into the right family? Thanks again to everyone it was a great time and now for a cup of coffee and a nap.

Fiber Fanatiks Party

Come ye Merry Fiber Fanatiks, come enjoy the time...
with gifts of wool and yarn and stuff, good thing it's not a crime.
We gather with our kindred spirit...Ok enough with the Carols..as the photos to the right will reveal we had an awful time...awful fun time that is. Once again eating and laughing and just having a good time. I do want to Thank all of the women that come from so far..it would be a loss with out all of you. Everyone exchanged gifts and this time we had poetic justice...for all of our Susan fans...a few years back at our Christmas gift exchange it was my turn to pick a gift. I approach the table full of beautifully wrapped gifts and the excitement was overwhelming me...I carefully look for the perfect gift...the cute one..that one over there behind all of the others...that's the one. With great anticipation..I pull out the tissue paper on the top of the gift bag and gently put my hand deep into the bag so not to break anything that could break and

Kro`sha

What a full day I had!!! I met some friends for breakfast and then I met some other friends for Fiber!!! Not the kind you eat...no sir the kind you yearn for...lust after...have to have....need to touch!! Increase your stash I say!!!! Insulate your homes!!! She who dies with the most fiber will flabbergast thier family!!! Where did all of this fiber come from? Did she secretly own a store? Do you know how much money is here in "String" and "Thread" ? aaacckkkk those words are like nails on a chalkboard to the avid fiber addict. So anyway I spent the day with more friends that are totally in denial of their addictions....and then there were snacks...will it ever end? Ok so I have been eatting entirely too much this week.year..lifetime? But after eatting dinner with the addicts...as I was walking, the button on my jeans was under a stress test....squeeking under duress....I can read the headlines now...Woman gets killed on Vliet st. walking, minding her own business...when overstuffed woman ,behind her coughs, and the button flys off of her jeans and imbeds itself into unsuspecting victim's back. How on earth could I explain the Levi bullet? So after a day of eatting and spinning and a nip of knitting...I am ready for a rerun of "Lost" and a trip to the feather bed Ball...only to do it again tomorrow!!! I need to go back to work...did I really say that?

Shopping Mania

Fave things...fiber/sudoko and knitting a pair of socks from Mountain Color weavers wool.
I finished another present, not too soon either...I think yesterday was Christmas? I had to go shopping but first I waited till the nutso crowds thinned. I went to Target...no one was there...they are closing Jan. 7th for 10 months to build a new one. Is it me or where ever I go there is closings? No one remodels anymore, they just tear down. The shelves were all empty, so shopping was easy...the money saver store? I did get what I wanted, telephones. I am getting a land line once again, ahhh it's part of deal that goes along with the cable. It will take me another month to figure out the remote and how to turn on and off and record....technology is such a great thing but it sure can set a person back for a bit. I also took a ride west of here and they are clearing all the beautiful trees on the side of the road to make it wider? Urban sprawl, huge homes and yards and I wonder how they pay their heat bills. Where do all of these people work? What do they do for a living? Well enough analyzing and back to my knitting.

Merry Christmas

I am home and relaxing with a cup of coffee and it's time to blog. We exchanged a few gifts some home made some bought. We made a rule quite a few years back..we don't exchange gifts, it has taken the stress totally out of Christmas. Besides the fact that we all pretty much buy what we want for ourselves when we want it. So none of us really need anything. We all seem to have "enough". I did make my sister who's birthday is New Years Eve a pair of socks. None of us have room for more junk and not to sound ungrateful but gifts that were bought just for the sake of giving something...We instead will buy something for each other, when we see something that would be totally delightful ...no matter what time of year. For no reason vs. a have to buy!!! I am off of work this week and am looking forward to getting together with some old friends. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Par tay!!!

I'm sure a good time was had by all!!! Ok a few heads up...check out the bathroom attendant on four legs!! That is Max and he is one huge Rottweiller, but extremely gentle and sweet. He watched the snack table and the bathroom, with occasional strolls through the groups. Next, Lois does not cook or spin.....she knits like crazy, but no ,to the cooking. So what present did she pick in the gift exchange?....yeah...a cook book and fiber!!! Susan brought some really cool glass knitting needles, we thought she brought them for handouts..haha just kidding Susan!! So good food, good friends and good wishes!! So we got to my house about midnight and this morning I had to pry my eyes open and after 4 cups of extremely strong coffee. and a mushed wad of raspberry fudge Janyce shoved in my pocket...I didn't feel too bad!!! My voice is hoarse from singing Carols on the way home..and Janyce and Anne need to brush up on thier Carol words

Painting rocks

Did I ever mention the seaglass project? Well I am painting rocks now...I am bored with what else I have to do. If you caught that "have" to do!! I will check previous postings before I go into the seaglass project. Actually this has not cost me anything, because I have all the paints one could need and I have rocks, they were free, so you see this isn't too expensive..yet. Well I do need a new paintbrush, a fine line brush. That will be about $30ish for a good brush, one that doesn't paint two lines at once. This is one of the rocks..I am learning what I am doing wrong...starting for one? Tonight is Michelles Christmas party and there is no snow in the forecast, very unusual for Michelles party. Each year on her party night we get snow!!! One year, I drove alone and it was the first time I was to her house and it was a blizzard. This is about an hour trip and half way there I figured it was too late to turn back. As I left the freeway to embark on country snow driving, I realized there were no lanes...also no vehicles...pretty much only me!! I was hoping the mailboxes were a good guide to the side of the roads and they were far and few between. Slowly I made my way to the highway I needed to turn on and go two driveways on the left. Ok? I think I saw one? Well did that indent in the snow count? AAhh this looks like it an old farmhouse with lights on....I did tell you I was in the country and all the houses are old farmhouses? I make my trek down the long drive going downhill all the way, only to realize I was the first person to this party. Actually I was the only one, as I took my plate of treats up to the door I looked in the window and saw a strange woman heating a baby bottle...umm Michelles has no little children and that didn't look like her...I figure they have to wonder who drove up so I knocked. A very nice young man came to the door and told me I was one driveway too soon, it was the next one on the left. I thanked him and apologized for bothering him and got into my truck with my treats and attempted to leave graciously. on ice!! Spinning the tires for a good five minutes I look to my left and here is a dark warmly dressed man, it was the young guy from the house? I think?. I opened my window and he said let me show you the back way out of here, I can't get up this here hill even with the dooly? What the heck is a dooly? I thought? (dual rear tired truck) so I let him ride shotgun and around the back of the barn we head away from the road I am so yearning to be on....eww was I too trusting to let some strange guy in my truck, in a snowstorm to "help" me get out of his yard? Have I watched too much TV? Was he going to steal my treats, rape and pillage? (he'd be sorry) Cut me into little pieces and throw me in the loft? My life was passing before me as I figured how I would throw the rock hard frozen rice crispee treats at him to ward him off. We made a turn to go around the barn and then towards the road, turns out we were on gravel so there was more traction. I let the kind young man out on the road and back into his warm dry house he ventured and me on my way to the next driveway. He was just a kind country boy helping this foolish city girl out. I did make it to the right driveway and stayed till they plowed the roads, something they don't do as well and fast in the city!!! A good time was had by all....I'm off to the party tonight again

BBBrrrrrrr

I am cold...to the bone. I turned up the heat with frostbit fingers and I am still chilled. Two cups of coffee and one cup of hot chocolate later, I am wired to the point of not being able to hold my hands still enough to knit....oh oh over dose? Out of the corner of my eye, lurking against the wall...my rug weaving... no I haven't done anything on it. I have been knitting on a sock and a scarf. The crippler is on my loom resting till it decides what it wants to be. The football game is on tonight so I won't be doing much of anything...maybe napping, I could use a little nap. Ok so I will have to sell some of my stash in order to pay the heat bills, I 'm cold and I'm turning up the heat!! Did I say that? Check out how mom dresses when she is at my house....hahahahaha No yarn this month...just heat!!!

Veterans Christmas Party

This is a photo of the box of 31 socks that were made for our Veterans Christmas Party. We collected $638.00 throughout the year at different events. I put the money into small bills, because they use the money for Bingo prizes. I had another Veteran , thank me for the socks and claimed they were the warmest ever. That is always a welcome compliment. I want to Thank California, Illinois, and Michigan for helping in the donating of socks and of course my core group here in Wisconsin.
We didn't get nearly as many socks as we have in the past but it seems the farther away 911 gets the more the patriotism wanes. But thanks to the red, white and blue scarves from Lois and the socks we sold that the Wisconsin girls made, we donated a nice chunk of change. A Merry Christmas to our Veterans!!!

Cranky Presents

I decided today that I am going to crank some socks out for presents. The picture makes the legs look like they are for a football player. They really aren't that bad. This week has flown by and I have done nothing creative. I did make Tiramisu for a Christmas party at work and I took my mom to the hospital for a scheduled stress test. I started a hand knit sock to do while I was waiting, that and my faithful Sudoku puzzle book. The book I love to hate. It is snowing again and the snow blower better work tomorrow, if I need it!!! I missed Greys Anatomy because I set the DVR to record it, seeing as though it was not at it's usual time, due to the Packers late game. I started to watch the recording and right in the middle of it, just like Murphy's law, the recording stopped ...the hour was up ...The football game went into overtime...so I have searched the net to find the transcripts, I have found nothing...now I have to wait for reruns...

ET revisited

I am not extremely bored but I had to play a bit with Billy Button I think that's his name? I defurred the house today, not a total defurring after all it is winter and we don't want to freeze. The Christmas Party's are starting to pile up...I am not good at a stressful calender. My friend Lois, loves to run around, I think she is probably running in her sleep. Contrary to her I am a homebody. A really good day to me is not getting out of my jammies and the truck never leaving the driveway. AAACCCkkkk, I just looked out the window and it's snowing...flurries, is this a curse because my snowblower is broke? What have I done? I need chocolate...creamy rich milk chocolate. I wonder if Nestles delivers? Hey I wrapped four presents today. I am the worst wrapper in the world...it looks like a two year old wrapped them. I love gift bags...they rock!! I think I need to scour the kitchen for some chocolate chips....!!

Dead in the snowbank

You know how I said it was snowing beautiful and white and how lovely it looked. Well Friday after work I was going to fire up the snowchief and plow the drive. So I left the truck parked on the road, let the dog out and put on a hood, took off my glasses and comenced to start the snow blower...it started alright but wouldn't keep running...hhhhmmm choked it a little more, a little less. Now to back up some I started this snow blower twice this year earlier...in Summer and once again in Fall. that little puppy, started up and ran like a fine tuned engine. I plowed the last snow and it ran fine...now what possesses a motor to quit for no reason? So my Saturday job is to overhaul the snowblower....Out comes the tools, but first I tried to start it once more for grins and I even shook it a little for good luck. No luck. I started taking the housing off and now it looks like some sort of vehicle from Mad Max. I should let you know I am doing this outside because I can't see very well in my garage..not that I can walk in my garage but it's kind of dim. So now I am kneeling down in the snow fiddling with the carburater and it begins to snow..how ironic. I am not to be beat...! I pull my hood tighter around my face, because I can't find a hat to wear...you heard me right, no hat!!! Now I have an exposed carburater hole and the little float and pin fall out into the snow with the gasket...such luck I recover it all and now I can't see because it is blowing snow and the sun is gone. I have had it....I will throw all the parts into a box and bring it over to my brothers garage. He is up north fishing but he won't mind me working on it in there. So I tip the snowblower on it's wheels and gas comes gushing out of the exposed hole, I quickly tip it back....how am I going to get it into my truck to work on it? So now it is sitting in the garage, handle staight up in the air and a gaping hole in it's side. It stopped snowing..(as I breathe a sigh of relief) So now when I drive into my driveway I just have to 4 wheel over the hump at the beginning where the plows left ice burgs of snow from all the streets around the city!!! HHHhmmmm and tell me why it's so fun owning a home!!!!

Schnowing out!!

It is beautiful, it is snowing, pretty heavy too! It warmed up some and here comes the snow. I can only hope we get 10" so the roads are closed. Not that they ever close work...but I can hope for the day anyway!!! I am not working on anything. I need to do so much and I am doing nothing. I think I will spin a bit or maybe weave on my rug that is a lifetime project. I think I started this baby about 4 years ago now? The moths will have it before it's finished. I guess I just figure there is so much more to do and I like looking at it on the loom. One incentive is a nice spot for it above the TV....hhhhmmmmm Tomorrow is Friday!!! yaaaaayyyyyyyyyy

25 Years

Last night was my anniversary party, not mine alone but with about 50 other Steamfitters, that had anniversaries also. I learned a lot of things from this party. One-this was a large group of retired steamfitters (smelly old men) Two-never lament over what you are going to wear to a Union award dinner (flannel shirt with suspenders optional) Three-never ask "How are you?, if you are not prepared to hear in detail about hip replacements, prostrates, emphesema and peeing all night!! Four-no matter what I will always be a rose among thorns in that group!!! I was however very humbled by a woman steamfitter that has been in the trade for 10 years, she is the educational directer after serving an apprenticeship. She came over and Thanked me for breaking ground and making it easier for her. I ....me....was at a loss for words!! I thanked her and my head swelled and I actually felt very special. She is now my new best friend.!!! It was a good time and nice to see a lot of the old timers. Make note of the wonderful "Tie tack" I got!!! any ideas?

The Crippler....

The worst part about knitting is after all of the work you put into it the final product looks like crap!!! I am stuck on the Crippler? I put sleeves on and took them off...So for now I have a large, long, vest!!! I kind of like it like a vest...and I am always hot? I am throwing it into the corner...using it as a throw....I guess one of the mistakes we all make is looking at the model wearing the clothing....I really hate to admit it but I am not 6'2" and 125# and while I'm at it, I am not blond and 25 years old either. So what in the hell did I think an oatmeal colored oversized, large stitched, knitted coat would make me look like? Is this a magic coat? Maybe that's it, if I put it on I loose 100# and wrinkles and grow a foot taller. I win the lottery and don't have to work anymore...I build my dreamhome and there is world peace, no hunger in the world and the whole world is laughing....at my coat....maybe? Poor Woolie was the brunt of many jokes for years and now he has a twin...I am not going to knit again? I resign myself to the fact that I shall knit socks and mitts and mundane projects from here on...no more fashion plate...Next Stash bash I'm getting rid of all of my knitting books. Ok so maybe I'm being a little hard on myself...I hear chocolate chip cookies calling me...

Such Decisions?

It's early Saturday morning....I love Saturdays!! I am sipping on my fresh ground, french pressed coffee from my most favorite coffee shops..Alterra!! I tried a new coffee and it's something like Voltares passion? It's Ok, I may have to have a few more cups to decide!! I was working on the snowmen face and ran out of DMC thread in Black....I'm sure if I dug around this house I could find 3 new skeins, but I need it now so I will have to buy some "Now". I'll find the others when I am done using it. I have some major decisions to make today, what to do? I have no deadlines...no pressing issues...Oh yeah Christmas but that doesn't come for a few weeks. I'm talking now!! I may go fool around with my knitting machine, but something tells me that I will get sidetracked, which could even be vacuuming or something totally stupid! I am painting a rock....I know I have vowed no new hobbies but I wanted to try it. I do have a canvas gessoed and ready to start painting. I want to make bread pudding...oh what should I do first? I better hurry and decide before I want to just take a nap!!

Making Ice

My brother loves to fish...more than anyone I ever knew. He keeps my freezer in fish and his own. He can put down one heck of a lot of bluegills and is an excellent fish cook! This year he has all new ice fishing clothes, new boots, outter suit, right down to new undies. Last year we worked on fingerless gloves, him telling me what he needed and me trying to oblige his wishes. He just wanted the tips off and so I tried to serge them, which caused mushrooming around the finger tip..(fish hooks get caught in flared tips) so this year we needed to tweek the gloves. He came over with a shopping bag of alterations. I altered the polar fleece pants to slim down at the ankle to fit snugly to the leg allowing the boot to fit smoothly over the pants...(I was given specific directions) Then we moved on to the gloves. I think he had a ream of them...or a gaggle? Anyway, I use lycra like a bias tape and split the $1.50 pair of jersey gloves at the fingers and sewed them back closed on three fingers of each glove. We had perfected the tipless fishing glove!! As far back as I can remember, we were always very close...I won't go into the tortures I invented to make him tough, but? When I need help, I can count on him to be there for me and in all of my bad life decisions he never judged me (to my face anyway)!! We get along fantastically and he has much better taste in mates than I ever will!! I can't ever remember making him so happy as I did altering those silly gloves....He is going to wear them out trying them on and taking them off. He has called me minimum of three times in two days to tell me how great they are...and he hasn't even used them. To fish anyway!! Hopefully they will assist in catching lots of fish this winter!! I think I know what to give him for Christmas!!

Taming the beast

I have walked past this monster almost daily. It's teeth glaring at me at different levels...sneering...so I attempted to feed it. That was about 4 months ago...it keeps looking at me...I walk past and it's eyes follow me...from one side of my studio to the other..inviting yet defying me. Can I tame this beast? Ok so I will try once more tonight and as I slowly sit to proceed, I get distracted by yet another old friend...Norman...hhhmmm Norman and I get along much better, there is no hassle with Norm...he's what we call "Easy" maybe I should just crank on him a time or two...get some yarn and take him for a spin...crank out a sock or two or maybe some mittens...leave the beast alone. I turn away once more from the darn knitting machine...will I ever make something on that creature? I started a sweater on it, months ago but for some reason it intimidates me....I want to work it and not make any mistakes, I want to turn out beautiful handmade creations...no fuss no muss....no errors. It's how I think I should learn to play an instrument. I for some unknown reason feel that I should sit at a piano and play concertos? Flawlessly with no lessons, nothing just inner skill...or something like that!! Tomorrow I will try to tame the beast again or at least for a few more rows!!

Back to the Grind

First day back to work, it was fun! I can't wait to go again tomorrow, I may even go to bed really early with expectations that when I wake up I can go to work...I lied!! I am working on these felt wool Snowmen, they are really cute. It's a no brainer project and not to stressful for my back. My son Mike, is on his way to New Orleans, by on his way I mean that...he got stuck in Memphis, the plane was overbooked and over weight, so he was bumped. Not such a bad deal figuring he got a free ticket to travel anywhere in the Country and Europe..providing they aren't overbooked and overweight? So he had to spend the night in Memphis and thought he was stuck till Tuesday. He called me with total disappointment in his voice. What's wrong? Every store in the airport is out of Elvis sunglasses!!! Are you serious? It's the only thing I wanted....(family favorite saying?) Well did you try Graceland? I didn't have time they are getting me on a flight to N.O. at 1:45pm. I didn't know you liked Elvis? I don't, I just wanted Sunglasses like his........Have a nice trip Mike!!!

It' over...all over!!!

Why is it that vacations and weekends fly by so fast and workweeks drag on forever? Why is it my list of things to do....did not get done? Partially some did, basically some didn't and the time ran out!!! 5:00 am it will be wake up and start another work week all over again. That is a depressing thought, but then again, it beats the alternative of not having a job? Another Christmas present is underway. I did get the previous white warp dyed, that is the warp to be used in a class on shadow weaving a scarf. I like the colors,but it took forever to rinse clean. I think I have had too much coffee? Check out the photo from my phone camera? Ha, it is so small and grainy...just not the quality that I am used to!!! I found a cool website called Story people, check it out...storypeople.com.

Guess who's back?

I am not a person to leave things behind or to lose things..it makes me nuts!! So leaving my knitting bag behind left me ....nuts!! Pam told me, her dear husband would bring it to the PO on Friday, but he in fact mailed it on Wed. I imagined the worst...my favorite camera..crushed under the tires of the Postmasters tires, hijacked by thugs stealing mail!!! My coveted light up knitting needles stabbing out of a tire somewhere between here and Beloit.... Lament no mo', it's back safely in my hands. I am so sorry I left you behind...I was worthless knowing part of me was hanging around somewhere I wasn't!!! I was forced to take this photo with my new camera phone which is another fiasco...that is how you spell that isn't it!! So I feel wonderful it is snowing here!!! I love the snow, and once again my feet are cold? I don't get it...could it be the house temp was 56' and that is Fahrenheit? Time to snuggle under a binky and stay warm. I did not get my loom warped, but I did get me house kind of cleaned..

Day three and I am lost

I did something totally stupid yesterday!! I left my knitting bag with camera at a friends house about 70 miles away!!! Actually I had my light up knitting needles in the bag and I think my "friend" Pam, hid my bag. I can hear the clicking of my needles from my living room. my ears are burning...click click click...How you ask could I forget my knitting bag? Well I drug along the crippler (Einstein jacket) and that took up a large Walmart bag, another goodie bag with ice cream and half and half for home made bread pudding and my spider web knitting bag. So we ate Pam's homemade breadpudding with caramel ice cream first and then homemade soup after. Drank lots of coffee and watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory and I finished the collar on Einstein. I also worked on the sleeves but I don't like the way they look on me. I have short arms and I look like a munchkin, so now I have one sleeve done( I will be ripping that out) and the other sleeve started. I may not put sleeves on it at all? Being that the jacket is oversized the sleeves end up needing only 20 some rows to be the length I need? Trust me it looks goofy. I may get more use out of it, as a vest? hhhhmmm so after Muscle Therepy, today I decided to let it sit and decide what to do with it. No photos so picture me, with a heating pad on my back and a cup of coffee and my feet elevated with a disgusted look on my face, and a heap of knitted Oatmeal Wool next to me, with needles sticking out of it all over. I have a camera phone but I'll be darned if I can figure out how to mail them to myself? Note to self-never leave your camera out of your sight!!!

Day one

Today is the first real day of vacation. I didn't get out of my jammies till 2:00pm, drank a pot of fresh ground coffee and did some sewing. I did some embroidering actually and finished some Christmas presents and screwed up some too!!! I am dying right now, against my better judgement in the kitchen on the stove? It is some warp for a class in January on Painting a Warp and then later Shadow weaving with the painted warp. Fiberwood Studio is sponsoring the class. We are using Tencel for the warp and the "hand" on tencel is fantastic. I am dying the samples, one will be skeined so they can see what it should look like and the other will be woven to show the finished product. I was going to do a "Fall" palette, but decided on a turquise/blue/green/fushia palette instead...those colors are magnets to almost everyone...who doesn't love purple? Now to watch the Packers play Monday night football!!! Go Pack Go!!!!

Naked Plumber

No photo neccesary...I love my bath..it is my mini vacation. I make a ritual out of it, hot, hot water, bubbles with patchouli, music and candles on special occassion. I also really like to drain the water out of the tub when I am done. Seems the pop up drain wasn't popping up...no matter how I tried. I got out of the tub, dried off and retrieved two screwdrivers because of course one would not do. I leaned over the tub, with the towel falling into the tub, and finally realized it would work better if I just went back into the tub to fix the drain. So I climbed into the tub and with two screwdrivers, I fixed the tub, the water drained out and I once again dried off and went on with my night. The next night, I pretty much did the same routine, ran the water and soaked off the day and went to drain the water and the weight of the water would not let the pop up drain come up? Ha this time the screwdrivers were right there...and I fixed it once again....I just ripped the guts out of it and let it hang there.....for now! I am on vacation I will fix it for good...I hope...soon ...or resort to shoving a wash cloth down the drain, or just leaving the screwdriver close at hand?

Inkle dinkle doo

This is the first official day of my vacation!!! I am doing exactly what I want to do...Play!! I love to play and always have. As a child I knew I had things I had to do like go to school, homework, but all the while I was thinking of what I would do when I could "play". Playing has been my whole life, it just dawned on me that I never was much of a planner, but that's not true. I have been planning "playing" since as long as I can remember. Oprah it's true!!! When you write things down you do have an "aha" moment!!! I have been a play planner since birth. So my play plans are not written in stone, I did mention structure is not one of my strong points, I can be very easily distracted. I do want to dress my large loom, and start cleaning my studio...Well maybe not "Clean" but straighten out is more like it. And my sewing room is a disaster, worse than my fridge...Yeah I know it's hard to believe. I wove this little band on the inkle loom at Fiber Fanatiks, I will be making little Indian girl dolls, I'll show you once I get one done...Don't wait it could be a while. I am sitting here with my coffee in hand and feet up...ahhhhh vacation wonderful vacation.

Two sticks and Skis?

Tonight was Fiber Fanatiks...and Skiers? Wait did someone overbook the same room? First we were there, and then some lady joins us, with.."Our meeting begins at 6? so? We are already here? Someone... forgot to put someone...obviously us, in the book. I guess it didn't look like we were going anywhere fast, so the skiers decided to share the room..good choice on their part. We obviously were having more fun than they were. We had a pretty good group and a good time was had by all!!! We even have a sock for Stephanie. And a Super Model....we never have any fun!!!

What a trip?

Just think of the damage we could do in yarn stores, if we drove this baby around. I stopped into Fiberwood Studio this afternoon after work and she is getting in some really beautiful yarns. I will be teaching a warp dying class to be used in a Shadow weave scarf class. So I picked up the tencel warp to dye a sample and Barb will weave the scarf. Tomorrow is Fiber Fanatiks, it is early this month because of Thanksgiving. It is snowing outside!!! I love snow, ideally we should have snow without the cold but it doesn't work that way!! I am looking for something that will give my hands a rest from knitting? Maybe Kumihimo...or Inkle weaving? hhhhmmmmm

Introducing....

I would like to introduce Billy button...I think that is his name? He was a Christmas gift to my SIL (Cheryl) from her boss or something at work. She hated it and I could see why so I told her to put it outside and maybe someone will steal it? So I did and sent her a ransom note for BB. Then I dressed him up and took photos of him all over and sent her notes. That was about two years ago and I would wait for her to forget about him. I was cleaning and guess who I found? You got it BB is back and you too can enjoy his travels. My arms hurt and I can't knit and I hate my Einstien Crippler jacket. I have enough coats to wear what do I need another one for? Stupid jacket...

Boogy men and Dust bunnies

First I must mention that I have a cat...he tends to hold things hostage if he just happens to see the bottom of his food bowl. He is smart enough that when I replenish his bowl he returns his stolen items. Enough said, I also mentioned that I was cleaning (and sucking on my inhaler in the process) I was moving stuff ....yes I even moved stuff, not everything and don't ask my how I selected what, but I did move some things. I bent down and looked under my pie safe and found this hairy thing looking back, now I realize I have major dust bunnies but this sucker was huge and had hair sticking out of it all over? Remember it was dark under there too!!! The most dangerous tool I have for cleaning in a house full of yarn and wool is my vacuum cleaner. You know exactly where this is going...especially when I put the hose tools on it....I have unwound more yarn than I can say and sucked up full batts of roving in one sweep...So I armed myself with the hose attachment (gun) and put it carefully into the dark cave where the boogy man was waiting for me to put my hand, but I outsmarted him and shoved the flat end of the attachment (gun) into the deep bowels of his cave, half closing my eyes, to avoid his rage (to see better). I got him yesiree....but not all in one swoop, I chose to unravel him and choke my weapon with his intestines all the way into the hose and almost down into the bagless canister. This photo is what is left of him minus a few feet and my vacuum is recouperating. Meanwhile the cat is snickering, while the dog and I obviously were entertaining him. (There is no bending over in my house without getting your face cleaned and tongued if you happen to open your mouth...as a matter of fact that is my excuse for not exercising...ha!!!!!

Moving along

I am down to the sleeves on Einstein...1 2/3 left to do not counting the collar. A little at a time...remember do not over do!!! Today was a wonderful, wonderful day, the weather was super, and what did I get to do today, you ask? Clean my room...just like when I was a kid. I even scrubbed the carpeting, maybe I'm sick again? First the fridge then my room...what next? My studio??? Say it isn't so!!! Tell me I won't have anymore junkalanches....tell me I won't have to move three things to get to one. ...Ok so I got the hint , I won't clean my Studio this week anyway!!

Happy Veterans Day

To all Veterans everywhere...Thank you!! Thank you for fighting for my freedom, Thank you for letting me have the right to protest, if I choose, to speak my mind, to my privacy. We are a lucky group and you are not given enough appreciation. Thank you for what you have done, for risking your life for me. thanks

Peace at last...this is the view from my throne. Some people have a three dog night I have a dog and cat night. The view from my throne is through the ears of two animals. Check out Tyra in the backround I have no idea what that was,but the animals don't even seem interested!! I have a sick dog today no thanks to some cheap bone I bought at the grocery store last night. She is better now though and all of my bedding is clean...another unwanted project. I dropped the stuff off at Katie Gingrass and got a sneak preview of some of the wearable art. You can't miss this show, it will be fantastic. I know two of the artist and I really love their art. As soon I get the announcements, I will put it on the blog. For now I am going to relax.....zzzzzzzzz ...after I put all the bedding on my bed!

Ready...Set...?

This is it it's now or never. I have my things packed up and ready to go off to the Gallery. I will take them there tomorrow after work. I took some photos, I really need a model head to put them on...you know the kind you see in famous magazines. I know just what I want a glossy page with the models head tipped just slightly showing off the hat more than her face, but the mystery of the model lurks in the photo....man I better lay off the coffee. Honest it's just coffee. So now I don't know what to do first. I need to wind warp for my loom and I plan on doing some yardage? Or maybe a wall hanging, they seem to be coming back into vogue these days. I am going to use the new method by the Singing Weaver of tying on the warp with shoelaces for fast warping? We'll see I have the loom all set I just need to figure out what to weave. Einstein is still looking at me from my throne.... One thing I do have to do is clean...I have been totally neglecting cleaning, it's so easy to do that. Well above is a photo of a hat called "Princess" It really looks good on, I am into making flowers now too. Why not, it's going to be winter here and we need all the color we can get.

Warning, I think something exploded in my kitchen (staging area for shows)!! I can't find my kitchen table...I can't find my sink. Forget cooking...forget cleaning...I am down to the wire...aaaacckkkk!!! Ok so I have everything labeled...all the felted purses packed in a tote. Glue is drying on some hats? I had to go buy another tote for the hats, I have eight of them, they are going to be a challenge to pack. On top of all of this I had to add more stress by getting a new phone...I can't hear it ring so if you call me don't expect me to answer, not that I do? I don't even know if I can answer it if it does ring...aaahhhhh technology...!! It will just take some getting used to. Thursday after work I am taking all my creations down to Katie Gingrass and then I am done with it. They will put it out and sell it all!!! Ok so back to the mess at my house...if you do come over I found a great prop...I keep the vacuum cleaner in the middle of the living room...that way I can always say I was just in the middle of cleaning...forget it, the doorbell doesn't ring either. The photo is the top of the shawl, you knit the long edge with ribbon yarn, it is really quite pretty. I need a model?

Spinning

I just left Monday night spinning group with a belly full of dessert and snacks. It was a small group but very nice and relaxing. I finished the shawl I have been making for a present, I would have a photo but I'm ready for bed and just thought I'd shoot this off. I will show you tomorrow. I like it, it really looks like fish net and that's what attracted me to it? Fish net? Attractive? No one said I was normal... So another night and I didn't do any thing for the show this week...hhhmmmm. Ok so tomorrow after I take a photo of the pretty fishnet shawl, I'll label and finish the hats and get them ready to go. If I keep putting it off, I won't have to worry about it ....the deadline will be gone. You see work, the work that I do sometimes 7 days a week and 8 hours a day really cuts into my creative time. I think I better go to bed before I get overtired.

Just Chilling

Today, I am not getting too much done. It's cold and dreary and I am resting...actually doing lap jobs. It's where you sit in your throne (recliner) and do mundane movie watching things. A nap may be in order too. I am getting labels ready and doing some finishing jobs on hats and purses. I did take the camera out of the trunk and have a wonderful photo of three young women that collect womens Service Uniforms. It was an excellent display of all types of uniforms to under garments...we have come a long way baby!!! I will be posting the other Veterans Day Parade photos on my web, this includes the Happy Crankers and Closers!!!

Cranky Day

No that doesn't mean that I was cranky or irritable, it means that I pulled Norman (antique sock machine) out of the house and made Socks for Veterans on him all day!!! We had a great day and I would have some photos but my camera is in the back of my truck and will be there till it stops raining. Although I did have presence of mind to take the donuts in the house? If you watched TV news this morning you could have watched me, the bumbling dufuss, live, trying to promote our event!!! Look I am not claiming to be a speaker, as a matter of fact, even though my mouth is flapping 95% of the time, for some reason it fails me when there is a microphone present. Then I had to sit next to Ms. Pencil thin newswoman, her words flowed out like water in a babbling brook. She kept checking her size 0 jacket buttons, so I kept checking my white Tshirt with Veterans Day Parade logo on it, for my own self induced buttons, from breakfast. Behind me were the very supportive group of friends, you know the kind that pushed you into a situation and then stand back and giggle...!!! We collected a lot of money for the Veterans Christmas party and there was a large group of supporters. Special thanks to my peeps, Betty, Karen, Janyce, Lois and Lisa, without them this would not be happening. I can count on them to "always" be there...Thanks guys!! Now go home and rub some Ben Gay on them sore arms!!!

New Bloggers

If you would like to leave a comment, just click on the comment below the blurb and it will prompt you. Sorry for the verification step but in order to keep spammers off, it was recommended. So ignore the Fancy Dress comment already spammed and comment away!!! Remember not the envelope (unless you want to email me) not the pencil (that's the edit). Type away!!!

Glorious Friday

Tomorrow is the Veterans day parade and a group of us get together and make socks on antique sock machines. We have been doing this for about 5 years and we have a core group with some new faces on occasion. My sister in law (the good lunch packer) jumped ship on us...yes I did say Traitor, she wasn't happy narrating the history of the machines she wanted more...to spread her wings...she didn't just want the compliments from all of us for her great cooking skills and feeding us while we cranked away, we were devastated. On the other hand the Veterans Day Parade committee got a great volunteer, our loss their gain. We miss you Cheryl and your crock pot!! My truck is full of yarn all donated by PT yarns, Angora Connection and Accents. I'm off early in the morning sock machine packed and lots of yarn and hopes.

Why? you ask...

This is the culprit and that is me modeling it...right??? It's in the Knit Stitch book by Sally Melville
So you are wondering how I hurt my arms knitting? Good question, It's like this, I don't know when to stop...knitting, felting, dying, and let's not forget eating...especially sweets. When I like something I like it a lot. I wanted this jacket done...now. I took to knitting the bottom which is 200 rows of Lion brand chunky and did quite well with it, but then after 3 consecutive days of knitting on a heavy hanging mass, my forearms started tightening up. So I slowed down to a few rows but didn't stop. The driving need to wear this jacket on the first cold day, was winning out over aching arms. In case you didn't know I don't have any other coats to wear, my closet is empty and void of any wool sweaters or warm coats for the winter, don't you know I need to have "THIS" one done!! Or on the flip side it could end up in the "not gonna finish this one" pile. So this is my explanation for sore aching arms and now I am suffering and can't knit or can't go to work and if I don't work, I can't buy yarn and so on and so on....

I think I'm sick?

My feet are cold....no really this could be serious, my feet are freezing...I never have cold feet...even when I should have..! I am normally on serious meltdown. I tell everyone they are going to find me in ashes on my recliner (throne, or control central) My hands get cold, but not my feet. I wear sandals all winter and about this time of year I begin to wear socks!! I may have to turn on my furnace, or maybe put on some socks... I knit two more rows on the Einstein sweator that ruined my arms. It is heavy and huge. I am almost done with the back of it so that leaves two sleeves and a front...at two rows a night, I should be done about December 2006....taint fair I say!!

Lunch treat

Today when I sat down to have lunch, I realized how special my sister in law really is...she packed me some leftovers for my lunch, it was how nice the cake was wrapped that made me appreciate the things she does for me. I just throw whatever there is to eat into a grocery bag and like it....this was nicely wrapped....she made the cake and wrapped it securely for me. It was real special to unwrap my little treasure, It made me feel good..she probably doesn't even realize she does nice things like that, but if she ate a lunch I packed once she would understand. Thanks Cheryl. I am spinning cashmere and alpaca, it is spinning very fine and is a wonderful laceweight yarn. It lacks the color that dyed roving has and that makes it rather mundane, but it feels so good to spin, it has a wonderful hand to it and I'm not sure what I am planning to do with it. I don't make many plans...

Katie Gingrass

I am working feverishly trying to get enough hats and purses felted for the big show in November. My hands or rather my arms are toast!! I have a new hat idea that I worked on which will end up looking like a bouquet of felted flowers. I always have to wait till the last minute to get things done. I guess it's working under pressure that really gets the creative juices going!! Hey the response to my blog is overwhelming....that was a sarcastic remark. Get on board and follow the links it's fun reading what everyone is doing.

Friday I took a bus trip to Chicago with the WDCC members and we visited the SOFA show at Navy Pier. It was a wonderful trip and the day was awesome for late October. It was sensual overload and the wheels start to turn. There was not a lot of fiber art but some. Lots of glass in all shapes, designs and various techniques. Jewelry to die for and just so much to see and take in. Creativity is a wonderful gift...where the mind goes and how it processes ideas is amazing. I spent some of the day sitting outside on a bench just watching the lake and people milling about. Being that there are so many Artists walking about it was interesting to watch them watch art. It was a good day and a fun trip.

Please help me

I went on a cleaning binge...well it was a must do, not a want to!!! I bought a roast and it bled all over my fridge...partly because I couldn't jam it in straight. So it was tipped and dripped between the glass. This is due to the fact that I just keep shoving stuff into the fridge and I don't even know what is in the back..I am good about fresh stuff but not the jar stuff. I guess I figure if it's pickled ....it's pickled? So in a "had to" moment, I cleaned my fridge...ruthlessly, well shamelessly is more like it. What on earth does one person do with 4 jars of mustard and I don't even like mustard...honey mustard, yellow mustard, poupon and horseradish mustard...aaaaccckkkkk!!! But what I really need help with is BBQ sauce..I had 7 count them seven bottles of BBQ sauce? What is that about...Ok so some were stashed in my pantry which I might add got some deep cleaning too, but 3 were open and I threw one out before deciding I needed help!!! My explanation is this I didn't like it so I just put it back in the food changer fridge....figuring if I didn't like it now, if I put it back it will taste different tomorrow? Hey I never claimed to be sane!! So this is why I didn't knit or spin today!!! Look close next to the Silk there is one huge bottle of mustard left, but it's all clean and sparkly in there. I should never have bought that roast...Oh and how about the pantry...10 bottles of some Chinese cooking crap to make one dish 5 years ago, probably when I was trying to woo some goof...the goof is gone and now so are the ingredients.

I finally think this is working!!! Well getting back to the thick of things...Thursday was Fiber Fanatiks and we had our Halloween party, which amounted to a few costumes, I always wear my costume, so no costume neccessary!! There was a lot of stuff going on, some knitting some weaving on a triangle loom and some spinning by a flapper!! If you're in the area be sure and meet with us...last Thursday of the month.

This is me..well probably younger, but it was the best I could do with the choices I had, and to take off a few years and pounds never hurt anybody!! So I am playing with my options here...bear with me!!!

Trying again

I am trying so hard to get this blogging thing down and every attempt has been futile. I have so much to say and no where to say it? So here I am again trying another avenue!!