I have the fever....for beading

I have been playing in my pile of beads the past few weeks and having a good time.  Today I went crazy with 2 bracelets, pair of earrings, and a watch.  What fun, to play with beads and wire and little tools.

I didn't spin today, but I have been knitting on my ruffled edge shawl...working on the ruffle.  I will be focusing on that project this weekend.  I have promised her my attention fully...I will be in a car, so I will be able to knit until I get car sick :)

Oh, almost forgot!!!  I made some beaded stitch markers and will be giving these away.  Whoohoo!!  I will post the pics of these this weekend and see how that goes.  I just hope there is someone out there reading this little blog...so I can give them away!

The doggie fence is coming....

Ava and Finley, also known as Ike and Tina or Bonnie and Clyde, are getting a fence!  It will be finished tomorrow, fingers crossed.


You don't know how happy this makes me or how much this will help me...open the door, let them out to tinkle....loving it!

Cats need a break...open the backdoor and out they go...genius!
Now placing bets on how long before one of them digs out and goes for help to spring the other...any takers????

On a knitty note, I am knuckles deep in making stitch markers. Truly enjoying the wire wrapping and bead playing that is involved...and since I won a fat quarter pack the other day from Stash Resolution (big happy dance) I thought I needed to pay it forward, like Coggietm talks about.  Thus, I will be making some more up and having a little giveaway of my own.  Exciting!!!!

But for now, the fence is not finished and the FrankenFinley is whining at the door.  Time to go tinkle ...or as we say in this house...group pee!!

Tour de Fleece 2010 has come to an end....

 

My handspun

So glad I joined TDF this year and didn't just lurk.  I had a great time, spun more than I ever would have without the deadlines, and will do it again next year.  

I met several goals, including spinning with mohair locks, spinning alpaca, and learning to love very imperfect yarn :)

I have to find a missing bobbin of corriedale-alpaca that went MIA yesterday.  I will be searching under beds, couches, and counters for the little booger.  I'm sure a cat or dog thought it was a cool prize...CSI will be called in for saliva prints and the guilty party will be placed in time out!

I suspect it is Princess Maggie, which is His Majesty's cat...she hates me.  Peed on me twice while we were dating...and once in my bag.  She is the confiscator of roving, as well as the sleep-on-top-of new-fabric diva...

Dogs and children...so similar (and a TDF update)

Have you ever stopped to think about how dogs and children are alike?  I did today and I feel there is a strong comparison between the two.  Maybe it is just me, but tell me what you think.

1.  You can never go to the bathroom by yourself.  There is always a little one trailing behind you to see where you are going and what you are doing.
2.  It never fails that when you get on the phone they immediately need to tell you something. Never mind they have been quiet for the last 45 minutes, completely ignoring you.  You will hear (at loud volumes) mommy, mommy, mommy/bark, bark, bark!!!!!!
3.  When you finally have 10 minutes of quiet (everyone else taking a nap or playing quietly) to sit and knit, spin, or close your eyes they instantly spring to life and begin destroying something.  If you are busy, they are fine.  If you sit down, chaos ensues.
4.  They do not want to share snacks, toys, or pillows.  Even if you give them an identical snack, they believe the other one has a bigger one or one that tastes better.  Even if you give them an identical toy, they must take the other's toy away and play with it....they do not share!
5.  They choose the moment you are walking out the door (with someplance to go and needing to look presentable) to throw up, pee, poop, knock over food/liquids...which land on YOU...or muddy feet.
6.  It never fails when you are in the check out line that they pitch a fit for whatever candy, hot wheel, pig ear, or tennis ball is hanging at the register....and scream/bark loudly and embarrass you to no end.
7.  They do not listen!  You tell them to quit picking on each other and be sweet and they torment one another...they smack with their hands/paws, they steal treats, they yell in each other's ears, they sit on each other's heads....you get the picture.
8.  They do the cutest things (repeatedly) until you want to show someone, then they act like you are making it up and refuse to cooperate.
9.  When they do something they know is wrong they run and hide.  It is usually after they come look at you (to see if you are on to them) then take off and hide.
And I began to wonder why do I do it...why torment myself with this madness.  People often tell me that since I don't have children I don't understand...well you are wrong.  I do understand.  I have not slept a full night in months, since Ava came along.  She has to get up and pee during the night, she barks for a drink of water, blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, I wondered why and then I remembered why we keep these poopies (and kids) around.  At night, after a long day of fussing, work, grumpiness, cleaning up a hundred little messes....they curl up beside you and lay their beautiful little heads in your lap.  They look up at you with big, puppy dog eyes full of love and trust and your heart fills with happiness.  That is why...the sweet moments.

And on the TDF update....still spinning along on the corriedale/alpace, which I like.  On bobbin number 2 and hoping to have 4 bobbins when I am done with this batt. 

The colors are a gold/yellow/brown/rust...hard to describe, but very much like fall leaves here in North Carolina.  Beautiful...

The Versatile Blogger Award

Holy macaroni (which would be really good right now) I have been tagged/picked for this award.  Me!  I am so shocked and honored, yay, picked!!!  I was always one of the last picked in PE, since I have NOT a single athletic bone in my body, but we don't have time for that today or enough tissues for my melodrama..

The Versatile Blogger Award....

So, the rules are to first graciously thank the person that picked you with this award... THANK YOU CoggieTM for picking me...I'm smiling!

Now list 7 things that people may not know about you...that is tough, since I can be a blabbermouth, but I will try.

1.  I have never been able to do a cartwheel, ever, and have such shame and embarrassment that I lack the skill and coordination to do such a simple thing.  Even boys can do a cartwheel, but not me!

2.  I buy things in twos for some odd reason and not sure why I do it, but just started noticing it.  Like when I buy toothpaste I buy 2 tubes.  Buy detergent, 2 bottles.  Buy cat crack treats, 2 packages.  Buy moisturizer, yep, 2 bottles.  What is that???  OCD?  I have no idea, but my buggy always has 2 of most things...  Well, it might be that I am stockpiling for when zombies take over, since that is a possibility :)


3.  I have an addiction to doing laundry.  I find the motions of sorting, washing, folding, etc. very therapeutic and look forward to the dirty clothes piles.  (I'm not a sicko, swear)  I will even strip the bed and wash everything if I don't have a load in the hamper when I am stressed.



4.  I can't operate our TV/DVD/Wii station.  I can turn on the TV, but that is as far as it goes, so I just don't go into the man cave to watch it.  His Majesty set up the system and it is so complicated I would have to go back to college for an engineering degree to figure out how to watch a bleeping DVD, so I don't.  (and I dare not ask, oh the ridicule....I think this was his way to keep me out of there!)

5.  I don't wear shorts in public.  Okay so most people I know know this, but they don't know why.  It too is a long story, but I just don't wear shorts unless I am on vacation.  (I wear skirts and capris).   I have an issue with how my legs look and I am too self conscious to wear them.  Oh, no bathing suits either!


6.  I lick the bowl!  Yes, I am a batter bowl licker and I don't want to hear a word about the raw eggs!!  I might even go make a cake right now, just so I can lick the bowl!  There is nothing in this world like licking that bowl....ah the memories of childhood and being the chosen one to lick a beater.  Good times!

7.  I have never been waxed on any part of my body, for I am terrified of the pain!  I think I am beginning to grow a moo-stash (or so the shampoo gal told me) and probably should look into waxing that puppy off, but it scares me so much!  And don't even talk about the bikini area, that is insane!

Well, I hope that enlightened you to how abnormal I think I may be at this point...it did me!  I will tag a few wonderful bloggers with this award and then go throw on some shorts while I make a cake, sort some towels for the wash, heat up the wax and roll around in the yard attempting a cartwheel :)  Thank you again CoggieTM

Please visit these wonderful bloggers that I am passing the crown to:
Stash Resolution
Quality Time
How to eat a cupcake

My little superfreak...part 2

Yes, the story continues...hum along with me...Rick James, bust a move...here is the little vixen on the yarn stretcher, trying to stretch out the kinks.  Did it work?  Well, no it didn't.  That is okay though, I have accepted defeat.  I cried my tears of despair and embraced our differences.  She is what she is, kinky.  I shouldn't judge.

 

After all, she is mine and she looks good in a ball...with a cricket.  I haven't counted the yardage and will have to do that tomorrow.  Still no clue what I will knit with her, but I will peruse the one skein books and get some ideas.  Kinky, who knew I had that in me (wink, wink)...

And the Tour de Fleece 2010 goes on for me with this little number; a corriedale-alpaca blend that is spinning quite nicely.  I am enjoying it.  I spin and watch my Netflix shows that I am now hooked on.  Yes, my addiction...no, not the wine.  That is a whole other story...I hate wine!  Yuck!!!  But then stumbled upon this winery at the festival a few weeks ago, taste tested, loved it, bought a bottle....celebrated with a swig after finishing this bobbin and starting another...so if you enjoy wine (good for your heart!) visit Carolina Mist Winery.  It is tasty!  ....maybe I should take up drinking to help my spinning....let's ponder this over a glass of wine, shall we???

Now, show addiction in a nutshell....I am hooked on a few shows that I can only watch through Netflix, since we only have an antenna and get 3 channels (basically, depending on the weather).  My secret pleasure viewing includes:
Sons of Anarchy, Rescue Me, Dexter, The Tudors, The Riches, Tru Blood, and Breaking Bad...to name a few.  Do you see a pattern?  I think I am a delinquent!

I love prizes...

I love prizes and I love reading my favorite blogs.  Sometimes they go hand in hand!  Today I am linking you to one of the blogs I read and podcasts I listen to, since she is having a giveaway...yahoo! Stash Resolution is hosting this fabric giveaway and my fingers are crossed that it is my lucky day.

I'm all about fabric these days and getting ready to start sewing a few tops and working on some baby quilts, so the more fabric the merrier.  Please check Stash Resolution out and join the fun!

Rockin a niddy noddy...make it yourself!

Yep, feast your eyes on what became my niddy noddy.  See, all of this TDF spinning has put a hurtin on my skeiner and I needed a niddy noddy.  Well, just needed one anyway.  So I went shopping online to find one, ikes, expensive for my budget.  I decided to just google how to make one and found tons of PVC directions out there.  They were everywhere, so I made a list of supplies and bing, bam, boom went to the home improvement store.

All of the directions were pretty much the same.  The only difference was the length of the pipes.  I had this puppy put together in 5 minutes, no joke.  And that was with the poopies wrestling under my feet.

So, go make your own.  Here is what I bought and the cost:

4 - 1/2 inch slip caps to put on the ends, total $1.08

2 - 1/2 inch Tee connectors, total .56 cent

a 1/2 inch diameter piece of PVC pipe (bought the whole piece, about 5 feet), total $1.02

CHEAP!

The wonderful home man cut the PVC pipe for me, saving me that work!  I had it cut: the center piece 15 inches long, then 4 pieces at 5 inches long each.

Then I just put it together...looks like this.  Now I have to go and slap some yarn on it!  I love it and it was cheap and fast and saved my some moolah.

That is good since I turned my back for 10minutes and Ava and Finley did this to a cushion...(insert bad words here!!!)

The good things today included having lunch with my baby brother, Quinn.  Also, sewing 2 scrub tops and 2 pairs of Elvis pj pants, those will go in the mail to my niece tomorrow.

Oh yeah, made some blondies too and they are pretty tasty :)  Tomorrow will be making a necklace and earrings, sewing my top, knitting and spinning...and dog walking !!

Fabric-eey goodness to behold...

to become tops...

Well the brown/green/pink will be a scrub top, the brown and teal and the pink will be a cute little top pattern I found that looks quick and only takes 1 1/8 yard of fabric, sweet...Butterick 5216 will hopefully end up cute.  Fingers crossed.

Elvis will become pj pants for my niece HANNAH...another cute Butterick pattern (3314).  She loves Elvis, but it is a secret, so don't tell anyone.

I have already made my niece CAROLINE her pj pants, well actually shorts...

and then I made her a Peace purse...

I recycled the handles from a thrift store purse....1 buck, that's talking!  All of this was due to "getting to know your Bernina" and the fact that there was a big fabric sale and I wanted to buy something.  Have you ever felt that way?  Just feel the need to buy something...I bought fabric.

My Tour de Fleece day has been a little slow; mostly dog walking, sewing, and laundry.  Just heated up a cup of coffee and will hit the wheel in a minute.  The poopies are sleeping and His Majesty is out looking at a car...no clue when he will be back.  It is quiet here and I had better take advantage!

SuperFreak....part 1

Well, my 8 ounce batt spun into a very kinky girl, as I have mentioned before.  X-rated kinky, naughty kinky, way too much to handle kinky, Rick James kinky...so I am trying to get her under control before I have to send her to juvvie hall or wherever bad yarns go to straighten up their act.

So while I watched Sons of Anarchy, season 1 on my Netfllix DVD (oh that is a whole story in itself, I'm sooooo hooked) I skeined the bobbin onto my little skeiner thingie and set out to show her who the alpha doggette is in this house...

... 

Here it is fresh off of the skeiner....I know, so kinky, ugly!!!  What in the world could I ever do with this pile of pssghetti looking yarn?????  Even the puppies said no thanks....said she was bad blood.

.

I plopped it on the counter, while I filled the sink for a good soak.  She needed to be cleansed of the bad vibes.  I thought of calling in an exorcist, but was too embarrassed that I actually made this pile.

duckie

And soak she did.  I did a little water torture in hopes of getting this here blob of a yarn single to come into submission for me.  No yarn of mine will be such a bad example!!!  

So, that is the first part of my SuperFreak yarn....go Rick James, sing it!  I will have to show you what happened next....cliffhanger....

In other news, I went to class 1 and 2 of my Bernina Mastery class and learned more than I thought.  Of course, that also means I HAD to spend some money while at the quilt shop.  I had to buy the correct threads and needles and some more fabric and odds and ends....geez it's a losing battle.

I'm peachy, you can be too!

Peach Muffin = YUM!

I had a couple of peaches that needed to be eaten, because they were leaning towards the squishy stage.  Lo and behold I found this recipe from How Sweet It Is....Peach Pie Muffins.

I made them with a little change....I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 cup of all purpose, since I didn't have whole wheat pastry flour.  I also used a 4 ounce container of Fiber One peach flavored yogurt, since that was all I had.  Even with those changes it was yummy.  I recommned this recipe!  (oh I also used my huge muffin pan, cause I like my muffins big...like Dunkin Donuts!!)

Day 12 and a little Alpaca...

This is the start of a new batt for TDF today and it is an Alpaca blend, my 1st Alpaca.  So far, not too bad!  I am liking the colorway...thinking it is "jumping in leaves" or something like that...anyway, very fall like.  Maybe little socks, if I have enough.  I am spinning him on my Cherub wheel, which has a very small bobbin, so this will be many bobbins full.

My little Cherub wheel...also known at times as Satan

In a minute I will skein my puppy pee bobbin and let it soak, then whack, then yarn stretcher...and hope some of her x-rated kinkiness comes out...especially since this is a PG show :)  (I have no idea what I am talking about...it is the panini I just made and inhaled and the cup of ice cream I am chasing it with at 11pm tonight).

And this is what I live with...the Tasmanian devil known lovingly as Finley (or FrankenFinley)...he destroys everything I put in his kennel to make it cozy.  Blankets, dog beds, pillows, towels, mats, rugs...EVERYTHING.  This is why I am going to take up drinking..if I can give up ice cream!  Can't do both...too many calories!!!
Anyhoo, tomorrow is a "free" day, meaning I did not make any appointments or plans and I am free wheeling it!  That means dog walk (after I make some peach pie muffins), gym, library, phone store (I get to upgrade), pet store (everyone needs food), and then crafty goodness at home.  Yes, I have a list for tomorrow's crafts :)

My 8 ounce baby...

Potty training puppy yarn

I finally finished the 8oz of corriedale-rambouillet combo I have been spinning for the Tour de Fleece.  Gee willickers, it took much longer than I had hoped and is so kinky, x-rated kinky!  I am sticking with it as a single right now...just because I have no clue what to ply her with.

See my initial thought was to spin 4 oz on 2 different bobbins and ply.  Then I thought, what the hay, let's test the bobbin capacity on this little Spinolution Mach II wheel and see if we can get all 8 on it....well I did!  Now I'm stumped.

I spent most of today's TDF time prepping fiber for tomorrow.  I believe I will spin this batt (same combo, different color) on my Cherub wheel.  I KNOW I won't get 8 oz on a bobbin, but will let her get some use.

I went to a jewelry class tonight and made a cute pair of dangly earrings that I will have to take pics of...since I was not productive enough to get that done before hopping on here.  I learned how to make loops and wrap the wire and it wasn't as hard as I imagined.  I see more dangly earrings in my future....crap, there goes more money!

I also was able to steal about 30 minutes to knit today, while watching Rescue Me on Netflix.  Have I told you lately how much I LOVE Netflix...and don't get me started on Hulu....man I have issues with TV.  See, I like having the noise and I feel like I am not such a sorry booger if I am doing something productive while I watch...but actually half the time I don't see the screen, just hear the noise.  Anyway, that is a whole visit on the psych couch..don't you think????

Okay, time to take earring pics and eat my sub.  Who is bringing over ice cream??????????

Where did the weekend go????????

Geez, where did the time go?  I feel like I accomplished very little and it is almost Monday again.  I still have a billion things on my too do list and more for tomorrow. 

What did I do???  I did get a little purse sewn for my niece Caroline.  Bought a few 99cent Butterick patterns at Hancock and some pj pants fabric.  Ate everything in sight...exercised very little.  Saw Predators and ate a large popcorn, my lips hurt from the salt, big mistake.

Baked little blueberry/blackberry crisps, bake banana/zuchinni muffins, went to the Blackberry Festival with mom and mamaw and we went to a wine tasting.  I'm not a wine drinker, but this place was pretty tasty!

Spun for TDF 2010, but didn't finish the 8 oz batt, so more tomorrow...spin, spin, spin.
Bought too much at my LYS store and will post those pics soon....all for me!

And sorted through some pictures from the beach....and just because I can...

Quick someone give me a Sharpie marker...I think he needs a moo-stash!!  Or maybe false eyelashes, or some lipgloss, or big eyebrows....

Friday is a good day...I sewed!

I love Friday, when I am off :) that means projects and I spent most of my project time sewing.  Well, it started with a dog walk, then cereal (Fiber One to be exact, because I am addicted to that stuff) and then cleaning.  Yeah, had to scrub the bathrooms, mop the bathrooms, 3 loads of laundry, strip the bed, vacuum the house (repeatedly), clean up dishes, etc.  You know the drill.....boring!

Then I broke into my Hancock stash from this week and made the above little purse.  It was 50% off and SO simple to make!  I love the greens and will stuff it full of junk I won't even need, but isn't that what a hobo bag is for??????

Then I did this....don't you love it????  I do!  This is a gift for a dear friend's bday next week.  She is one of the sweetest people I know!  Intelligent, beautiful, sweet, caring, giving, hilarious...it just goes on.  Anyway, she has a little dachshund named Jake and when I saw this fabric I had to make her something....so a totebag was born today.  Happy early birthday Miss Gigi, you are awesome, don't forget it!  (I hope you like your bag!)

I made it as I watched Sons of Anarchy on Netflix....two things I am addicted to....Netflix and now Sons of Anarchy (that's my wild side!)

I finished it off with my little name labelthat I ordered a year or more ago off of Etsy....

So, what did I learn from this tote?  1.  Make sure your name label is straight and even   2.  put stabilizer or interfacing in the handles to give them more support (I knew this and didn't do it!)  3.  topstitch before sewing in the lining and add a pocket next time.

Oh well, live and learn!

Off to eat Panda Express and spin a little TDF fleece....don't even get me started on how this fleece is sucking the moisture out of my hands...they are soooooo dry! 

Tour de fleece day 6...man I'm tired!

I had no idea how tiring spinning everyday with purpose could be...I'm tired!  Day 5 was finishing the orange marshmallow stuff and today I skeined it up and it is on the yarn stretcher now.   82 yards of fluff, no clue what to do with it, but it is there....hopefully not to be eaten by one of the cats while I am sleeping tonight.

Yes, the lighting is terrible, that is what happens with energy saving bulbs at 9pm, you can't see a thing!!!  Tomorrow is back to the potty training yellow batt, which I think I am just doing a single with...another experiment.
                          And for your daily dose of "ah" or "hahahaha" here is a little swimming shot of me topless...

Yes, old pic, thinking I was not more than 2 or three.  That is my sister (aka Wheezy) in the background.  It is hot here, hot I say!  95 today and hot!  Probably hot back then too...time for water and umbrella drinks....or ice cream maker cranking up....I need some good ice cream maker recipes, preferably low fat...

Tour de Fleece day 4

 

My orange marshmallow...

Day 4 has brought a little change in what I am spinning.  I wanted to experiment and needed to free up a bobbin, so I took a single that I was not happy with at all...and plied it with some locks I had stashed away.  

I think it looks wacky, but I am liking it.  I have no idea what it will end up as, but it has been fun experimenting with it...

day 5 will be finishing this little bit and back to the yellow batt.

Now I hope to find some dinner and knit!

Ike and Tina...

...also known as Finley and Ava are so in love.  I like to watch them snuggle, for when they aren't snuggling they are beating each other up!  Fierce!!  The past 2 days off for me have been fairly productive; 2 skirts sewn, 4 oz of batts spun (very kinky and wacky, but spun), sewing room somewhat organized, little pool constructed in the back yard, and a scrub top pattern cut out.  Pretty good!!

Today brings more spinning...another 4 oz batt to start for the TDF 2010 and sewing of the scrub top.  I will also be sorting fabric stash..the horror!!!  Hopefully the puppies will behave while I do this.  Oh yeah, and finding the perfect blueberry dessert recipe...ton of blueberries to use :)

Just a thought for the day...

Don't you agree?  I have a thing for zombies, along with knitting....so this is MY bookmark.  It fits me so well :)  and His Majesty gave it to me!  (he is not the gift type, so I was surprised)

I am off to begin Day 3 of the TDF 2010 and finish up the last smidgen of my 4oz batt and begin the second one.  I think I have formed a callous on my index finger...tour hazard, I need the medic!  Sadly, I didn't get pics posted to the Ravelry thread in time for the prize drawing and that has made me super sad :(  already a failure...boo hoo.  Better take pics now for today, just in case.

Little sideline projects....girl gotta multitask

knitting bag

So, I have this thing about multitasking, I have to do it or I feel lazy, unproductive, stale.  Right before I left for my mini vacation I found little blank totes at the local craft store.  Only $1.29 and screaming my name.  I grabbed a few, came home and made some little travel knitting bags for projects.  These aren't the ones I wanted from the LYS, but they fit my budget :)  I can't pay the $25.00 to $40.00 for those...but I can still slobber on them while there!

Yarn porn

I had to make a little stop by my LYS and grabbed some yummy yarn and a pattern while there.  They were even having a 20% off sale of the store for the owner's bday.  That's my kind of stop!!!  Anyway, I added more yarn to the stash and need to go do something with it.  Or at least move it around in the armoire so I feel like I have done something with it!

Day 1 of the Tour de Fleece

Potty Training Puppy

That is what I am referring to this yarn as...for now.  Since I spent most of my spinning time taking Miss Ava out to pee.  She thinks her tinkle zone is the living room floor.  Ugh...I'm so ill.  Anyway, spinning was not as I had hoped today, but tomorrow will be better.  I know it will.

This is a batt from the Dizzy Sheep.  I will get the details posted tomorrow...off to take Ava out again...

Diet Sundrop, SPF 70, and plenty of sand...

All of us are having a good time!

The sun and sand are plentiful here at Sunset Beach.  I don't want to leave :(  No sunburns or sunrash on my part, since I am spending most of my time under the canopy.  I have been wave hopping, but then back in the shade!  No shame from me in being pasty white.

The beach has not been very crowded and restaurant waits have been less than 30 minutes.  Barefoot Landing was a little crazy later on Monday night, but we survived!

I have eaten my way through the week and just knocked out some French Toast, delicious, that my BIL David made for breakfast.  I will be waddling to the beach in a little bit, just to have a snack :)
Vereen Gardens.

I went to the Vereen Gardens yesterday to check out the boardwalk and the marsh lands.  They are gorgeous!

There were hundreds of little crabs everywhere and it freaked me out!  I kept seeing them take me down and pinch me to death!  I recommend stopping by the Vereen Gardens if you are passing through!  (Now watch that not be the name of the place!  Remember, I am in food overload and my brain is NOT working)