Friday, December 22, 2006

Wishes

Wishes to you and yours for the peace and joy of this holiday season.

My weekend is going to be a bit crazy. My final day at work was today so now I'm gainfully unemployed. Tomorrow DH and I will be baking and cleaning because friends will be over Sunday for a holiday dinner. So I have 3-4 cookies, 1 bread, 1 rolls, a trifle and dinner to get ready.

Knitting and spinning resume on Monday.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

First Photos

Well, I have my first photos done of work in progress.

So TW The Holly and the Ivy:














And the socks:
And my Fair Isle sweater from Meg Swanson's Sweater's from Camp:
I'll try to pin out the sweater for a better photo for the next one. The colors are a bit pale - the background color is almost a navy blue.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Changes in Motives

I've decided to use this blog to encourage (force) me to complete some UFO's that I have filling a room in my house. So there will be some knitting and cross stitch and hardanger. Spinning will be just the fibers I have followed by either projects with those yarns or sale of the yarns.

The first thing I have to do is start photographing where I am with each project and listing them here. I usually work according to mood. I guess this will make me be less moody.

I think I'll be in rotation but between how many projects, I don't know yet. Input from others is appreciated.

Knitting:
Fair Isle sweater - I'm starting the 2nd pattern repeat but still have problems counting - or reading, not sure which.
Afghan for DDIL lots of cables and more on this one later.
Socks - finish DDIL's pair - only 1 1/2 to 2" left on last sock.
Lace poncho - I've lost track as to what row I'm on and will have to sit and figure that one out.
Scarf from one hank of yarn. Don't know how long this will be - but probably not very.

Cross stitch/Hardanger
TW The Holly and the Ivy - my stitching project this month.
VS Heirloom Christmas
TSL Queen of Roses
TSL Purple Perfection
self designed cs of one granddaughter from photo taked by DD.
Kustom Kraft Fire and Ice

That's all I can think of now - but I know there are others. Photos to come but there are old ones at my webshots album, user groach10.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

While I travel to spoil grandkiddles and cook and enjoy family and extended family, I want to wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

When I come back, I should be able to show you where I am on the Fair Isle sweater and the spinning.

I had read somewhere about using beading elastic as a drive band. I tried it as a double drive band and wasn't very happy with it. Then I tried two separate bands and that is working so much better.

So until next week...

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

If at first...

Today I was planning to show you how much I had completed on my sweater. Yesterday I discovered I had twisted the stitches when I joined it so zzzzzzzzzziiiipppppppppp and start over again. Three rows are not enough to show much of anything so we'll try for a bit later.

Off to knit more.....

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Happy, Happy

Oh I'm happy now with what was on my doorstep when I came home from work.

This was inside the box:

This is the yarn for Fair Isle Pullover with Vertical Stripes from the book "Sweaters from Camp". Both the yarn and the book are from Meg Swanson's Schoolhouse Press. So guess what I'm doing tonight...

I'm not a fast knitter, but I do enjoy the challenges. My first sweater, knit when I was about 15, was an Irish Fisherman's Sweater. I'd saved my money and bought authentic yarn and knit and knit. Finally it was done and I was very happy. It fit just the way I wanted. Then...

tragedy...

in the form of one of my two sisters. This person (I still don't know which one) was kind enough to put it in the washer with hot water. When it emerged it was about 1/4 of its original size.

My other current passion is spinning. I began spinning when a friend of mine was teaching belly dance. Her payment for teaching was taking another class free. She talked me into going to class with her. That started more love of fiber.

Fast forward to now. I've recently purchased some Superwash Merino from Crown Mountain Farms. I'm so happy with both the products and the service!

This is the start of one roving called Blue Suede Shoes:


Off I go right now to play with my new yarns!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Meet Me

This is the first posting of my blogging attempt. I've been encouraged by others who think I have a lot to say. You will be the judges of that. Topics will be mostly my crafts but other stuff will be mentioned from time to time.

I currently live in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. I'm interested in knitting, spinning and counted cross stitch but also quilt, crochet and embroider as projects interest me. I also love to read. Right now I have tropical fish but want to get a dog in the near future.

Mother of two, grandmother to five. Two of those five are special needs, both diagnosed as being in the autistic spectrum. One of the others is ADD - but his father was diagnosed as ADHD in elementary school.


I'll be posting photos as I learn how, as well as links to people and things that interest me.

So welcome, grab a cuppa your beverage of choice and join in with your comments.