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)

Love me some beach!

I love the beach!!!

We made it in great time and are having a blast....the kids are a hoot.  I have taken a few pictures, but haven't downloaded them yet.  This is from the crows nest on top of the house. Believe it or not, the ocean is out there, you just can't see it in the picture.

Gorgeous weather.....lots of sun, sand, and warmth.  Just the way I like it!

Downfall, one of my knitting projects has been put aside.  Brought my summer ruffled shawl and began the 2nd skein only to discover it is a different shade.  Now the labels are the same name/lot, but the colorway is different...slightly, but enough for me to go "whoa!!"  I put it back in the bag and grabbed the socks.  I will have to investigate my yarn further when I get home.  I didn't want to put a damper on my beach mood :)

Tour de Fleece 2010!

Oh yes, I have joined...2 teams!  Ikes, that is not like me, but I am doing it!  I am on Team Fleece Bottomed Girls and Team Rookie and getting excited!  I believe I will be working on this box of SpringHill batts that I purchased from The Dizzy Sheep.  It is a blend, the brown one has alpaca, which I have never spun before.  Anyway, getting ready for our July 3rd kick-off...or spin-off!

Here are a few other prospects in my fiber stash!  I didn't get a chance to snap all of the goodies, but it was time to go on vacation :)  I had no idea all of this was in my stash....that's bad!  I even have a pound of mohair locks that I didn't photo, that are gorgeous! 

Here is my Spinolution Mach II that will be spinning up a little storm for the Tour de Fleece!  Go wheel, get spinning!!!!   I was going to go with the Cherub or Babe, but decided such an event needed my big guns :)

Vacation.....we are headed your way!

Tra-la-la...I am packing for a little vacay that is much needed!  My family is already there and I will join them tomorrow.  I have sunscreen packed, babing suits packed (what my niece called them when she was little), Fiber One cereal in the bag, 3 knitting projects (of course), big book....what else do you need????????

The poopies will go to the kennel, the kitties will have a pet check every day, and I will hopefully sleep.  Though, I already miss them and they are all right here lounging.  BUT I need a little break from nightly pee breaks for Ava and I can't wait to play in the sand with my nieces and nephews.

Oh yes, camera is ready...

Puppy mess...I want a maid!

Don't tell me raising a puppy is not similar to having a baby or toddler, I will argue!  I will fight you!  Last night wasn't too bad in the sleep department, seeing as I got about 4.5 hours..better than it has been. 
Ava the Hun decided at 4:30 she needed out to potty, fine..no problem.  Then at 5:30 she decided she just needed out.  She wanted to play.

Sooooo, mommy had to get up with them as His Majesty stayed snug in the bed, sleeping.  Coffee started, laptop warming up, puppy destroying! 

She begins to unpack her toybox (yes, she and Finley have a toy box) and scatter toys all over the living room floor.  An already dirty living room floor, this is where my need for a maid comes in!  Then barking ensues...loud and demanding.  She wants attention from a sleepy Truman...who is NOT in the mood for Miss Ava gangsta thug!

This is my morning...I'm sleepy, hungry, and trying to keep everyone quiet...don't want to wake the bear!!

I grabbed my summer shawl knitting and I am trying to knit at least one row, but someone keeps trying to eat it.....gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.          I WANT A MAID! I need help....I would love for once to have someone else sweep and mop and scrub toilets.  Now I will do the laundry, since I love laundry.  But everything else I will welcome assistance on :)

I would be in a much better mood with help and I will share coffee and even bake something luscious!

Wanna go beadin?????

Several years ago I was addicted to beading...addicted!  See, I have a problem with crafting; I go feet first, obsessed, never ending, must do it all...to the extreme.  So, I went nuts over beading and did it ALL the TIME.  Then along came knitting and the cycle began with knitting.  I still have a knitting obsession, but last week Iwent to a get together with coworkers that included beading.  Oh boy, the obsession began again :)Sorry for the granite background, took the pics without thinking.  I made a necklace and earrings and now keep thinking of beading (beadin man!).  I have a HUGE stash of beads from my earlier love and need to knock them out before buying more.  Yeah, like that will happen!

Anyway, I am ready to go back to the bead store and play some more.

By the way, today is my official first day off for the summer...ikes!  What will I do with this time off????  I have some spinning and sewing classes lined up, lots of puppy dog hikes, a beach trip with the family planned, and hopefully some day trips for fun.  And find a pool!!!!

Wanna go bead with me????  Just let me know !

Finished another little project....I'm on a roll!

Well, I feel like I am on a roll...that counts for something!  So, I saw this link to a tutorial over at Stash Resolution.  She was making tea towels for Mother's Day, except hers were much prettier than mine.  (That's okay, I don't mind... :)

Anyway, I wanted to try to use some of my fabric stash and started cutting strips.  Oh yeah, I printed off the suggested tutorial from Tallgrassprairiestudio, which is excellent.  So, I go buy my muslin and get to stitching.

I have made 4 lovely little tea towels.  These (above) will be going to my mom.  The other 2 I will be test driving.  They are cupcake strips :)  Love them.  Mom doesn't know it.  I'm just going to pop them in the mail and let it be a surprise!  Don't you love getting prizes in the mail???  I do.

Now these are some generic Magic Loop socks I have deemed my "travel knitting" and was working on them last night as my knitting project.  I have completed the heels, yes they look funny!!  Stop laughing!  And now slowly working on the foot.  I hope to finish these by next week and cast on another pair.  I MUST work down some of my sock yarn.  It is taking over!

I am loving Magic Loop so much more than DPN, because I suffer from second sock syndrome.  I find my cable needle beneficial to my sanity.  I worked on them a little today during a workshop break and was asked several times "what are you doing?"  "why on one needle?"  "how can you do them both at once?"  "you find THAT RELAXING???"  Why, yes I do!!  I love it and it helps me to focus.  The workshop stresses me, the knitting centers me.  Does that make sense to you?  I know it will to the knitters out there!

Well, another 7am to 7pm workshop tomorrow...I just hope they have more food, I was starving when I got home!  This girl needs her snacks or she will pass out!

Sewing away...love it!

I have been sewing much more than knitting the past 2 weeks and loving it, but missing my knitting projects :(  Ever feel that way.  I lost my knitting mojo and just hopped into some sewing projects.  I have been stitching up some fabric lanyards with my fabric stash.  I'm thinkging about trying out Etsy with these...need to pay for the Bernina :)  I made about 25 of them, carried away....

Speaking of carried away...Ava and Finley get a little crazy when they play together.  Since this picture she has grown a ton!!  12 weeks and 19 pounds of gangsta teeth!!!  AND PEEING in front of the door, gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  She will scratch to go out and potty, but tinkles without saying a word.But how can I get mad at this little puddin head??????  After all, she is only a baby...patience.

Now, I need to go and spend an hour decrompressing with some roving and my wheel, then knitting a little on my shawl, and walking the hounds.  Perfect evening :)

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!!

Ah, the weekend and school is out :)

School in my system is finally out for the summer and that means a little vacay for me :)  I will embrace it, yes I will, but it doesn't arrive until June 25th.  Until then, work and trying to stay cool.

I discovered this morning that Cafe Press is having a sale!!  Yes 25% off sitewide and that includes the very cool knitting apparel...all 28,500 women's tshirts!!! I am trying to read them all.  The coupon code is "BEST25" and shipping starts at $5.95.  I found this info on http://www.dealnews.com/.  I already have 3 tees picked out and may even make my own. 

I have frogged 3 baby hats intended for the Stitch n Pitch on Tuesday and I am so frustrated.  What am I doing wrong????  I just can't seem to get it together.  I think I am in a knitting slump, gasp!  I have stalled on the socks, the shawl, the baby hats and my summer cardigan.  I am stuck!!! 

Today is hair day and I sure hope that goes well.  Finally, these highlights I was given 7 weeks ago will disappear, since I HATE them....along with everyone I know....they all hate them too. 

I have been working on making muslin tea towels and need to find the links to show you....that is my goal for the afternoon...to share...be productive.  That and some ice cream.  It is the weekend after all, that means MORE ice cream.

A little monkey surgery...

A smile for the day...last week I performed a little monkey surgery at work. A 3rd grade student was quite upset that her monkey was torn and asked if I could fix her. Well, what a challenge and what a precious girl...I had to say yes! I couldn't let her monkey be injured at school, so surgery was our only option.

I set out our equipment and proceeded to suture the little guy back up. I applied a big bandaid and he was as good as new. After a short stint in recovery, he returned to class and enjoyed the day. Wow, what a feeling...day's like this that make my job awesome!!!

Quick look at the Bernina

Here is the Bernina that I bought this week...I'm finally putting up my pics.  Corbin kitty LOVES him some boxes and couldn't wait to jump on top to lounge.  He prefers a shoebox, but will take whatever is around that he can stuff his big body into.See his crazy eyes, that is happiness ("oohhhhh I have a box, I love it!").  I love my Bernina as much as Corbin loves a box.  I plan on taking the Mastery classes that my store offers, but the next go round isn't until July...boohoo.

Anyway, I'm happy :)  It is Friday, the sun is out, I had a wonderful breakfast (made egg whites with toasted English Muffins and peanut butter), and I plan on hitting a drive thru for lunch and living sinfully!  Thinking Bojangle's!

Have a wonderful Friday, hug a cat!

Stitch and Pitch!!!!

My town is having a Stitch and Pitch and I am so exicted!!! The details are here.  On June 15th at 7pm, the Hickory Crawdads will host a stitch and pitch and I am so hoping to go! I have my voucher and I have my pattern picked out. We will be knitting/crocheting up some lovely preemie caps for our hospitals. I just love preemie caps :)

I had a class that day as well, but it has been postponed, so I really have no reason holding me back from the ballgame. I'm stoked...join us!!!

I know that A Strand of Purls, Wildskeins Yarn, and Chix with Stix will be there knitting up a gorgeous storm of yarn goodness. 

Slow progress on my Ruffled Edge Shawl

Terrible lighting, I know.  This is where I am on the Ruffled Edge Shawl (free pattern from Ravelry) that I mentioned a few posts ago.  I love the colorway of the yarn and this is the first time I have truly knit with cotton.  My main problem is the yarn slipping off of my Addis, but I can live with that.  I hope to get a little further tonight.....

I also made the Bernina purchase yesterday.....yes!!!  I have pics to post of that tonight.  It is still in the box!  I know!  But dinner, cleaning and dog walking was just so much that I couldn't stop to get it out and love on it, so that is tonight's big project after exercise.

My regret:  I wish I had really splurged and gotten the next up model.  Oh, will I regret that forever?????  I was trying to stay within a reasonable budget, but now I regret it :(

Happy Memorial Day!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day and take time to remember those who have so gallantly protected us, honor them!  (not just today....but everyday)

Finley and Ava are getting along very well, they LOVE each other :)  I'm so glad.  I think she has calmed him down tremendously and I am super glad of that.

Today is Memorial Day as you well know and my workplace is closed, thus I am off.  Now, I had the option to work and normally I take that option for the extra time.  However, I am TIRED!  Puppy training is hurting me...getting up several times a night is not fun (my hat is off to all of you moms!).

So, I decided to stay home :) .  His Majesty decided to stay home as well, since he was in a 24 hour mountain bike race over the weekend and needed to recuperate.

Of course it is raining!  But that is okay....I can still enjoy my day off. 

I will be going to look at Berninas today and hopefully decide on the machine I want.  I will also be spinning a little and working on my socks and shawl.  Good times!!!

And I need to take pictures of this stuff and post....just so I can see what I am doing !!!

What is up?

Quick post here just to say what is up.  Well, the precious little puppy found a home last week, but may be coming back to me today.  That is a long story for later today.  (I have missed her).

I have decided on the Bernina :)  huge smile here, just not sure which one.  I will be going by the sewing store to talk with a rep and decide from there.  Cost is a factor, since I just bought a new spinning wheel.  I have to have some restraint!  Don't I????

I started my shawl last night and only knitted about 5 rows before Finley decided he needed some loving....This is my yarn of choice for this little Ravelry shawlette, which I think will be very pretty.  I will pick it back up tonight and get at least 5 more rows completed!

My after work to do list:
1. Finley for a hike, exercise for me
2. Laundry folded and another load started
3. Litter boxes cleaned out
4. Dinner for EVERYONE
5. Spin at least 30 minutes
6. Pack lunch, pull out clothes for work, load car with work stuff
7. Shower and knit :)

I am a mess...

Have you seen a messier fabric stash?  Seriously?  A mess.  I am a true mess.  This is one corner of the fabric stash and it is out of control.  I need to reorganize.   I got so far as hanging the roving basket from the ceiling and then found myself becoming distracted by the other half of the mess....yes, another corner of insanity!

I then started trying to tame the sewing table and didn't get very far in that arena either.  Ugh.....maybe I can get a true grasp on the situation tomorrow and it will be beautiful...well, at least workable.

Then there is the sewing machine problem.  I broke 2 needles last night trying to sew a seat cover.  For some reason, my Brother has been giving me fits the last month or so and I am worried.  I can have it serviced and fixed, but it will cost a little more than half of it's worth.

So, do I just bite the bullet and get the Bernina that I have been wanting?  Or do I pay for service and keep this one????? 

 Can you tell I need an excuse to get the Bernina????  :)  Well, I will be making a pro and con list and see what it looks like to get the new one.  On a happy note, I picked up an Addi Turbo size 7, 32 inch circular needle today to start my summer shawl.  That makes me smile...
as does this yarn...MY yarn, a Wooliegirl yarn...dyed and spun by me :)  I love it!  No clue what I will do with it, but I still love it!

MY yarn..

So it may not look like much to you, but it is MY handspun.  I died, spun and knit this puppy!  I had a small amount, a test run and wanted to make something quick.  I went to Ravelry (who doesn't?) and found this pattern for a coffee cozy and thought it would be perfect.  It was, I love it and actually knitted two of them. 
The pattern is great and I love the colors of my yarn and the way it knitted. The buttons are just haphazard for show, so I have to go back and fix that.  I'm just proud of my yarn, that's all :)
I also snapped up this book and can't wait to try a few of her techniques.  She is giving a class near me in July and I am 87.9% talked into going...talking myself into it!!!

I love her stuff and I want to get my coils down pat....also love Jacey Boggs Sit and Spin video and considering purchasing that as well.  My problem is this thing called "money"...I need some of it. 

This little lady is needing a home, because she is already costing me money!  Someone help me!!!  Finley loves her to pieces, almost literally.  He keeps licking her and knocking her down with his big paws and then he will kick her around like a soccer ball and lick her again.  A little frightful, but they love each other.


I am looking forward to the weekend, because it is the Carolina Fiber Festival and I am going!!  I plan on purchasing some fibers for my new wheel, Mach II....yea!!  That was a present to myself and I plied some yarn spun on my Babe on the Mach and loved it...so smooth.  Ahhhh, spinning is relaxing, which I need right now, but the puppy keeps biting my feet and the wheel when I sit down to spin.  It hurts!

OH my gosh....another puppy!!???

Weelllllll, look what showed up at our house, a puppy.  It was in the drain pipe, shivering, cold, wet, dirty, covered in ticks and briars...so pitiful!  We coaxed it out/half pulled it out and took it into the house.  Gave her a bath, fed her, played with her, fixed her a bed...see what is happening?   She is precious, actually stinking cute is what she is.  However, I CANNOT have another pet.  No sirree bob, no more pets in this house.  This is not last May all over again. 

She needs a safe and loving home, just not here.  I have bills to pay and 7 other little ones to feed.

I am trying desperately to find her a home...please someone tate her.

Finley is loving her!  He is right now chasing her and licking her.  His tongue is as big as she is....so it seems.

I have knitting and spinning I want to do, not dog walk and potty training!

Tonight I will knit a few rows on my socks, finish my cup cozy, and smile at the spinning wheel...and clean up dog pee.

What puppies do...

Just a sample of what my puppy has done this past year, repeatedly :)  Every pillow, blanket, towel, rug, and toy that FrankenFinley has had in the first year of his life has been shredded.  Just like this blanket.  See what I've been doing?  It hasn't stopped yet.  The joy continues every day.  Nothing has been safe from the shredding.  Luckily he is a shredder, not an ingester ;)

I'm back!!

Okay, let's try this one more time.  I so want to blog, I really do.  I know it doesn't look that way, but I really do! What happened?  Several things actually, starting with going back to school after years of working as an RN...went into a RN to BSN program and that took up most of my life..well that and working full-time and cleaning house and that sort of stuff (man it never ends).  AND THEN  this guyThis is Finley, my baby boy!  He happened and everything went upside down.  Oh my gosh...how can one dog do that??????What a sweet big head :)  Anyway, Finley came into the house and took over.  He changed my workout schedule, my work schedule, my house schedule, my social schedule...get the pattern.  A dog did all of that. 

He is proof that God answers prayers...see for years (many years) I prayed for a child, but sadly have never been able to have one.  I continued to pray for a child, naturally or by adoption, didn't matter to me.  It did to my husband, thus no children. 

Meanwhile, we were loving on 5 cats and 1 dog and His Majesty (husband) said "NOTHING ELSE THAT EATS, BREATHS, OR POOPS IN THIS HOUSE."  So no more rescues...then one day he tells me he has rescued a puppy from someone that was going to kill him.  Long story short, God answered my prayer and sent me my child!!!  His name is Finley!  :)  God has a sense of humor.....he is laughing now.

Okay, I'm finished with school, just finished this month!  Yea!!!  And I am trying to get back to spinning, knitting, sewing and baking...and a workout schedule.

Cold again!

I am still alive, kicking, breathing, screaming....and like you so busy! I am struggling to finish my 2nd paper for school. Turned the first in last week and trying to knock out the 2nd, which is due tomorrow! Bad student. Also trying to knock out baby quilts and pick out my perfect bday cake recipe.

I did finish 2 quilts for the twins and of course I didn't take pics of them! Whatever!!! Basically, I'm tired and my brain is frizzled. Maybe I can download pictures tonight of my fabric mess :) , it is huge!

I am planning on using my spinning wheels in my term paper review presentation. I am incorporating them into my discussion on Madeleine Leininger's Transcultural Care Theory of nursing....I know you are interested, ahhahahaaaaa....but that was my topic for my RN to BSN concepts class...now for coffee!

Can you scream slacker????

Yes, I am a slacker....big resolutions to be on top of my blog and then nothin! Well, one good reason...I discovered Facebook, great...I agree. However, it gave me a vicious virus! Vicious, wiped me out, killed my laptop, eeeevviiillllll! I had to wait for His Majesty to help reformat my laptop and then try and reload what I was able to salvage. I was mad and sad!

Anyway, back in the saddle and virus free so far! Of course, now very skeptical of Facebook. But here are a few things I have been doing sewing wise....making lovely little tissue holders that I found on Sew, Mama, Sew blog. LOVE that blog and have learned so much from the great tutorials! Please check it out and try some of the ideas. These were superfast to make and will be great gifts!

Also working on two baby blankets for the Meadow's twins. They are boys and I have been making little quilts for them. Have the tops done, but need to finish the backs! I have that as a weekend to do this coming weekend! One is greens and blues and the other is yellows, oranges and a little blue-green thrown in. I just hope she likes them for her precious boys!

The pics look a little sad, bad, and lackluster. But the tops are cute in real life, believe me!

Then there is school, ick! Just had my midterms in Nursing Informatics and Concepts of Nursing and I am working on my papers for each class. I do not like writing papers! Nope, not at all and have to buckle down and work each every night.

Now I have to go find my size 7 knitting needles to start bibs :)