Knitting Angel

Darn Gall Bladder!

2008-07-27T14:57:00.001-07:00

Well I have beeen out of commission for several weeks. I had my first - and hopefully my last attack. It is going to come out in a few more weeks.

My garden is doing really well - this week - I picked my first 3 tomatoes and them became BLT's - what I want most in the summer. I have picked beans 3 times and replanted them for a later crop. And squash??? - MAKE THEM STOP PRODUCING!!!!!!

Knitting wise, I am working on my Noni bag still - it is quite the challenge to manage 9 balls of yarn to knit it with. I am thinking about putting together a group for the ravelryolympics, but since I just read about it today - we need to decide FAST becasue today is the deadline.

How Does My Garden Grow?

2008-06-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it grows with tomatoes, peppers onions, squash, garlic, turnips, watermelon, beans and more. I am trying sweet potatoes for the first time this year so we'll see how that goes. And up goes the water bill as I work to make my garden grow. See my little baby cantalopw? I grew plants last year and had several melons - I was quite pleases with myself over that.

Knitting knitting - I started the Noni tulip tote and now that I have done the bottom anm now starting the sides. The bag is done in intarsia and uses nine -yes 9! balls of yarn with the 2 colors. I emailed Nora to ask her how she managed the tangled mess and based on what she said - I am doing a good job with the noodles of color that I have. I will poast a photo of that later - but for now? my baby cantalope!

WWKiP

2008-06-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well today was World Wide Knitting in Public Day and we here in Staunton spent the morning at one of our favorite coffee shops - well - knitting in public!! We had about 45-50 knitters who had a great time getting to know other crafters. We even had a spinner and spinning wheel.

Then we went back to the shop where many of the folks followed us to shop and we had even more fun.

After the shop closed, I made a mad dash to a friends wedding reception for some red velvet cake - yum. If I'm lucky, the MOB will bring home more and we can have it next week when I do a home visit.

I have put aside the rush to do the Pretty as a Peacock Shawl - I think that if I take the pressure off of me, then I will do much better with it. I am going to wokr on the Noni Tulip Tote bag for a while this evening - just plain relaxing knitting. Just what I need.

It's Hot In Here!

2008-06-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Summer has arrived here in Staunton with a vengence! The temperatures are expected to be at or above 99 for the next couple of days.

I worked in my garden a little whille this am and there was sweat dripping off my little nose within 5 mintes of going out there. I was pleased to see that there is growth happening everywhere in the garden and even a small pepper on one of the plants. Everything got a dose of Miracle Grow this morning and tomorrow I will set the soaker hose to work before I go to church so that things can get a drink of water.

My current knitting project is about to be history. It is the Pretty as a Peacock Shawl that I want to enter in to competition thsis fall. I have done the same **** row the past 3 days and even though the number of stitches is correct when I start, I am, 1 stitch short at the end of the row. So Iwill take it out one more time tomorrow to try to see what is going on with this row.

Perhaps I will start the Tulip tote to give myself a break, but this has GOT to be done early September. It just has to!

More soon on this saga.

LONG TIME!!

2008-05-24T05:07:00.001-07:00

Greeting all - My last post was in 2006 - Whew that was a long time ago and was at the Fall Fiber Festival Mudfest. I guess that I will try to do better posting now. This may be spurred on my the fact that I am doing a Secret palmexchange on Ravelry. Anyway - here is the information that is needed for that:

Do you knit or crochet? Knit mainly - I can crochet to complete a piece
How long have you been at your craft? 5 years
Do you spin? Yes What type of spinning? On a wheel mainly
What are your favorite yarns/fibers? I love alpaca and llama and blue faced leisterer, but i'll try most anything. What are your least favorite yarns/fibers? Short fiber lengths are not a favorite, but I will try it.
What are your favorite colors? I like most colors depeding on the seasonWhat are your least favorite colors? Orange and brown
Are there any yarns/brands that you are dying to work with but never have? Well there is always something new coming out taht sounds yummy, isn't there!!!!
What is/are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet? I like to do felted bags and shawls. I keep saying that I am going to do a sweater, but so far I have only started 2 of them.
What are you currently working on? Anything you plan to work on this summer? I am currently working on the peacock shawl as I call it. WHAT!! stop knitting because its summer??? That is what air conditioning is for.
What is your favorite FO? (Post a pic if you would like.) I have a felted bag that I knit last year. With this bag I have won two 1st place and best in division ribbon.
What is your oldest UFO? I can't remember!!!!
Are there any techniques that you want to learn? Steeking is likely something that I would like to learn at some point.
Are you on Ravlery? What's your ID? Yep - and I am luvstoknit on there
Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Nope - not yet! I have been told that hand knit socks are the best. I wear a size 11 shoe.
Do you collect anything? Besides yarn and fiber???? Charms for my bracelet.
Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes I do - in fact I have to winders, 1 I keep in the car!
Do you love sweets? What are your favorites? Well I am a diabetic and have to limit sweets. I tend to go for dark chocolate because it takes care of the need for chocolate quicker than milk chocolate.
What are your favorite scents? I LOVE Bath and Body works warm vanilla sugar. I have most of the ways that that scent comes. I also love lavendar and have that everywhere also.
Where do you keep your needles/hooks? My needles are in a jar that I bought for that purpose. My circular needles hang on the door knob.
, etc?)
Having a birthday this summer? Nope, my 50th birthday was in March. But I can continue to celebrate this summer if you want!!!

In The MUD!!!!! and Fall Fiber Festival - 2006

2006-10-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I have a hard time keeping up with this blog even though there are folks that do them on a daily basis. SO, on occasion I will put newsworthy events here and we will see what happens!

When last we met, I was returning from Pittsburgh, PA where I met a knitting friend that I had chatted with on Knitters Review. It was such fun!

Since then, I have been busy working my full time job and helping my friend to open his new yarn store - On The Lamb. I am so excited for him because this is something that he has wanted for a long time. I never realized all the
stuff thas is part of opening a store. There were many nights that we were there until the wee hours of the morning pricing or arranging the yarn, but how pretty the shop is.

I have been helping to knit some store samples for him and the felted bag that I knit a couple weeks ago cought the eye of someone this week and she purchased the supplies to knit herself one!! Whoo hoo! I am currently working on the second felted hat from the same pattern. We are going to have one in the store unfelted and then felt one so that folks can see the before and after. Sometimes folks just don't get how it works, so this should help.

I knit a scarf for the Fall Fiber Festival that happened this past weekend. It was knit in cashmere and was the Falling Leaves design from Annie Modesitt. I was really pleased at it, but alas, it did not win any awards in the judges eyes. What did win second place that I entered at the last minute was a skein of yarn that I had spun last spring at the May Fair event held in Crozet, VA. It got a second place. So therefore my goal for next year's competition is to do a project that will be worthy of a prize. Last year I got a 3rd place for baby booties. I also have a felted project in mind that might be worthy also. I guess that it is never too early to start planning, huh??? By the way - it has rained here for the past 2 days prior to the event. This is what it looked like there on Saturday - and it was MUCH worse by the late afternoon. When I left, I had to get my car pushed out of the mud- which meant that there was then mud OVER the top of the car!

A friend just washed my car yesterday and it looks WONDERFUL!!! Well I am off to work.

Now the Summer is almost over!!!!

2006-08-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

Well well, I was reminded that I have not posted in awhile - there was SNOW on the ground!!!

It has been a busy summer - I went to Pittsburgh in July for a conference - drove there - it really didn't take long, thanks to the wonderful directions from my truck driving friend. While there - in addition to the conference stuff we did, we took a dinner cruise, went up the Mongohalia incline, and shopped. Pittsburgh is not one of my favorite cities, but it'll do. I did meet one of the KR folks and we visited 2 of the yarn shops there - one was so so - the other was fantastic!!!! The folks were super nice, invited us to come back and visit any time.

An now I am on the advisory board of On The Lamb which is the soon to be shop of a very good friend of mine. It has been his dream to open this shop for years and he has worked in the fiber arts business for a long time. He is an excellent knitter and teacher. It is going to be a fun place to be - knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, felting. He will also teach classes there. It is about 2 blocks from both of our houses which makes it very convienent.

Miss Katie is fine, she has had a good summer, the week I spent in Pittsburgh? she spent with her Aunt Fran in Newport News, VA. She loves sepending time with them - they spoil her rotten and she gets treats such as burgers from Hardees.

Remember her? She is the United Methodist District Superintendant for the Peninsula District. A big responsibility - but she usually handles it well - when she is stressed? I get these early morning phone calls as she is tooling around.

Are houses ever a problem - during the week that I was away, I came home to find that there seemed to be a leak from my upstairs bathroom into the hallway. We watched it for a couple months and it did not seem to be growing - since no-one was in the house - how could there be a leak?? So finally this week, we took down that section of sheet rock and put up the new sheetrock. 2 days later, another small wet spot!! What the @#$%^&????? So we decided to start small and replace the ring on the commode in case that it the problem. If that isn't it - more sheetrock comes down!!!! OK enough about that.

AS the summer is over and kids go back to school, its time for my fall schedule to start, choir on Sunday, handbells sometime during the week and Celebration practice on Sunday afternoons. I need to be gat to Redhats on Wednesdays also. Soon it will be Christmas. And yes - I have already been shopping - who hooooo. I have a couple of knitting projects that I want to do for Christmas, but I have to get finished the stuff for Fall Fiber Festival finished. And then there is the simple matter of I have to knit some samples for the shop. So much to do - so little time - ans there is still that pesky leak!!!
Angel . . . . out!

What's new!!!

2006-02-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

Well let's see. It has been awhile since I posted - that's what. I have been really busy I guess. I was creating Christmas gifts for friends and therefore did not get any posting done. But here I am with a winter day in February and a few minutes to update folks.

We have snow here today so that this is what my house looks like. If you were to look real close, you can see Katie in the window!
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I have been doing some knitting - I have a couple of projects that I am working on - one is the color on color scarf from scarf style. I am making good progress, but get stopped working onnit every now and again to work on other stuff. Here it is so far:

But my favorite project that I am working on now is this one!!!!

This is the Lady Eleanor shawl by scarf Style and is being done with Silk Garden #233. Love the color and the way that this knits up.

Its time to start thinking gardening and so I hope to spend the afternoon looking at my catalogs and choose the perfect veggies for the garden for this year.

I have already made some sugar cookies for a couple of special folks in my life for Valentine's Day. Now that they are cool I gotta go and ice them.

What's new in VA

2005-10-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it is turning to fall here in Virginia. The leaves have begun to fall from the trees like mad. I want to wait a couple more weeks and then ask the guy who does my yard to cut one more time and put the clippings into my garden. Great compost for next year. I also need to make a journey to a friends to get some sheep compost for the garden. I hear that it is powerful stuff!!!

We - my friend Joe and I spent most of the weekend at the Fall Fiber Festival In Orange, VA. Both he and I entered items into their fiber arts competition. He received 2 second place and 1 honorable mention ribbons. He is a great knitter and has helped me to improve my skills over the past year. The baby booties that I entered received a 3rd place ribbon and my spun llama netted me an honorable mention ribbon. Both of us are already planning our projects for next year since we were both FURIOUSLY working to finish the projects for this year on Friday evening!!! LOL

I received a wonderful box from my KR secret pal on Monday!!!! She has been a wonderful pal and I hope that her secret pal is as good to her as she has been to me.My box included some wonderful roving in orange and gold (do you happen to remember what the fiber is???) a note pad and some treats for Miss Katie. My pal always includes something for Katie and she eagerly looks into the box with me. Thank you for a wonderful fall package!!

I have several photos to upload - of the box, the booties and some other photos that I want to add, but I gotta get to work so that I will try to remember how to do this and add them later.

Busy - busy girl

2005-08-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a long time since my last post. Guess that that means that I have been busy. The summer has flown! and I am not ready for it to be over - WAHHHHH

I have been to Georgia twice in the past 30 days. I went to Atlanta in late July for a conference related to work. We of course managed to have a great time there. My friend and went to an Earth Wind and Fire/Chicago concert. It was such fun and an experience for me who had never been to a concert. Thank heavens for the good parts of the trip because the airline lost our luggage both going AND coming! Can you believe that???

Then about 2 weeks ago, my guy friends and Katie and I went to north Georgia to spend several days with Jon's sister and husband at one of their cabins. It was so relaxing sitting there looking out at the Great Smoky Mountains. Not as great as our Blue Ridge - but right up there.

Got home and since that time have been working on painting the outside of my house. A long project because of the fact that - we have had no rain most off the summer and it has chosen the past 2 weeks to rain on days when we have planned to paint - GRRRRRRRRRRR.

Let's see knitting wise, I have a couple of projects that I am working on. Charlote's web is going to be a project that I pick up again during the winter month's. I really like it, but got stopped when I was doing a practice peace that a designer friend of mine asked me to knit. And then,we have the Fall Fiber Festival in October that Joe says that I have to submit knitted articles for. So therefore I am working on the Color on color scarf from Scarf Style for it. Problem is - here we are in September and I still quite a ways from being near the end. And I had also said that I was going to spin some yarn for it as well - guess that I had better get busy, huh?

And finally, for my KR secret pal, I love the box of goodies! I had made a scarf for a friend in the colors of the scarf yarn and wished that I had gotten enough for me - and when I went back it was gone - Now I can make me a scarf, too!!!!! Love the knit picks yarns also - guess that that means that there might be a pair of socks in my future. Katie says Woof Woof for the treats that were in the box for her and I am going to put the candle and stitch holders to use as well. Thanks for a wonderful box and I sure hope that your secret pal is as good to you as you are to me.

That's it for now - gotta go knit!!

Long time to post!

2005-06-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Well my goodness!!! - It has been a long time since my last post and there is news to report.

In May some friends and I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. All I can say is WOW!!!! I had a great time and purchased a lot of wool and some silk for several projects. IT was a long day - but well worth the trip. More fiber than I have ever seen in one place. And did I buy the skein that was $92??? NOPE!!!! But I sure drooled over it.

I have been trying to knit Charlotte's web and had quite a bit of trouble getting her started. Thanks to the folks at Knitter's Review and the Charlotte's web ring - I think that I am on track now and am on row 31 after starting it over several times.

However, I have had to put that down so that I can do a test knit for a friend of mine. He is a great knitter and has been teaching classes at out local recreation department. He has designed a Balaclava that has been approved by our local reserve office for the Military in Iraq. He is going to be teaching it to a class next month and I am the guinea pig for the test knit and tweak. He has a website and is going to post it there for all to see and knit along with the approved colors and wool that it should be knit from. His website is:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeo4p4m/zachry/id2.html

Katie is doing fine - spoiled rotten and loves it. She is currently curled up pn the bed asleep as all good poodles should be.

My KR secret pal sent me a wonderful book on sweaters to knit and in the box was a ball for Miss Katie, which she promptly took and has been playing with every since.

Ok - gotta go for now.

Secret Pal goodies

2005-03-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

Well today is my birthday and I just opened the box from my KR secret pal (see photos below). The goodies in there were wonderful. My pal sent me a gauge that hopefully I can learn to use well and some point protectors, as well as a pattern for a sweater. My pal also sent some fibers for spinning that I am REALLY anxious to get either my wheel or my drop spindles connected to! They sent a magazine that has wonderful recipes that I will be trying out - and according to Miss Katie - the best gift of all was that SHE got some goodies also!!!! Thank you secret pal for a wonderful box of goodies!!!!!!!

I hope that you pal was as good to you as you were to me!!!

2005-03-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you secret pal for my goodies!!!!

2005-03-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

Katie discovers that there is something in the box for her!!!!!!!

2005-03-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Katie sort of explores the goodies in the KR secret pal box

2005-03-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

Miss Katie lays on the yarn that I got from handparnted for my clapotis

2005-03-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

My first spun yarn - the color is bubblegum.

I have a new secret pal from KR!!!

2005-03-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hello secret pal - just want to let you know that I did receive the card from you. It was tooo kewl!!! Hope that you have a great day also.

2005-02-10T05:47:00.000-08:00

Three skeins of yarn plus 1- Can you see the difference???

Oooooooooooooo me scared!!!

2005-02-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

What an adventure I had last night! My friend Joe and I set out to go over to Stony Mountain Fibers for craft night. We had had snow all day long, but but the roads were clear so we set off. I had on my coat, scarf and gloves. Joe did not have on a coat but a scarf. He joked that if we had car trouble that he would have to stay with the car and me go for help because he did not have a coat on. Prophesy???

We got to Charlottesville in an uneventful trip and made the turn to go up the lane to Barbara's. There was another car that turned in in front of us - and I assumed that it was another of the crafters on the way also. We journey down the lane and had the good sense to drive slowly because of the car in front of us - and wanted to be aware of black ice. We did fine until we rounded a bend with a slight incline. Now if any of you have been to SMF - you know that there are several hills that you must negotiate to get up to Barbara's ending with a mini mountain climb up her driveway. We rounded a bend and found that there was a snow covered road and I began to get a little nervous. Joe took it slow still and the car that was in front of us had disappeared. We started up the hill and the wheels on the car started to spin and the car to slide backwards. We let the car drift back slowly hoping that it would get solid footing and we might get a running start. Unfortunately, brakes did not stop us and as I was saying stop! stop! stop! The car was NOT cooperating. I knew that behnd us was a big drop and behind that a river and I was not sure in that spot - how close to the river we were. Our guardian Angel must have finally glance up and stopped the car and there we were - cross wise the road. Joe put the car in park and I said to set the parking brake - just in case.

WE both got out of the car and I looked at the rear wheel on my side - 1" and we would have been over the edge. I walked around and looked at the wheel on his side which was on more solid ground. He asked if he should try to move it and I said NO!
He called up to Barbara's and asked her to come down to get me and he then called for a tow truck. They tow truck said that they would be there in 45 minutes. After about 10 minutes, one of the folks from up at Barbara's came walking around the bend. He said that Barbara had come down her driveway and was not able to stop and she too had ended up in quite a precarious position with her truck, quite close to the car that had gone up in front of us that was also in a ditch where they had slid!!! Barbara went back to get her husband to help her to rescue her vehicle and the other stranded folks. The tow truck did come in about 30 minutes, as did a man and his family who lived on the edge of the property that we were hanging from. It was really slick by then and even the tow truck had some difficulty maneuvering. The man who lived there had stopped his truck and come up to ask us if we needed help and we told him that the truck was right behind him and he started back to his truck to get in to move it and the truck was sliding backwards - with his young daughter in it!!!. He caught it and move the truck into his driveway and came back to help us. They were able to swing the backside of the car around with the wench and after backing the car down the hill and in to the driveway, we were able to drive back out of the road. No craft night for us last night - but a really BIG coke float to calm my nerves when I got home. WE are all safe - and that is what is most important of all. But we now know - call in advance on weather nights to make sure that the road is safe for travel.

And since I am not sire that I am quite recovered, I shall have to go to the Super Bowl sale at Orchardside tomorrow!!

To my - Outed secret pal

2005-01-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hey there Robin,
I tried sending you an email, but didn't have the address!! silly me!. Well Miss Katie is disapointed that she did not get to try the treats - were you making them from scratch??? That would have been so special for her. I have loved having you be my secret pal and I hope that your pal was as good to you as you were to me.

I am looking forward to the next round starting - are you??

Hope that you have a great day - happy knitting!!

Angel

2005-01-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

THe decorated house completed with some snowflakes fallinng

2005-01-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

Katie looks at the snow and birds at her Aunt Fran's on 12/26/04. A RARE occurrence in Newport News.

This is a photo of Miss Katie suring our visit to my sister's in December. I forgot how to use Hello to upload the photos. For folks not familair - a foot of snow in Newport News is NOT usual!!!!

2005-01-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

My Martha Stewart Table

Folks who came to visit ask - Who is coming to dinner? Noone is the reply, but I loved setting up the rable with the new Christmas dishes and crystal. Wehn my sister came to visit me, we ate at the table, but used the regular kitchen dishes.

2005-01-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

The staircase

This is a photo of the staircase at Chrstmnas time.

2005-01-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

2004 Tree

2005-01-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

Mantle

A new Christmas arrrangement for the mantle with the greens and candles and wreath above.

Oh My Secret Pal!!!

2004-12-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

You would not believe this, I was looking at this book in a store just today!!! I read through it briefly and thought that it was a wonderful book of how to's and anecdotes. I am so glad that I did not get it cos now I have it from you!!! Thanks you so much!! Katie said that she is waiting patiently for a package too - silly dog.

I am back from my sister's and am now planning to enjoy several days here at home - just doing whatever. I love going to visit my sister and brother in law, but I was ready to be home, and sleeping in my queen sized bed with the flannel sheets on it. Believe it or not - this toy poodle, takes a LOT of room on a twin bed!!! LOL

More later - gotta go read my new book!!!

Happy New Year, Secret pal

Oh the weather outside . . .

2004-12-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the weather outside here in Newport News is frightful according to my sister who has gotten used to milder temps. Night before last we had snow!!! Yesterday morning, the temps were in the teens. I thought that it was wonderful, she thought that it was horrible. Tee hee hee. Of course since we are in Tidewater, they are not sure what to do with this type of weather and all they do is to dump sand on the roads - not very helpful!!!!

Oh well, my sister and brother in law are off to work, and I am going to go shopping in Hilton Village just down the road. And then hopefully, we will make it to Williamnsburg to go to Knitting Sisters for a bit of stash enhancement!!!

Away at my Sisters until after Christmas

2004-12-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hello Secret pal,
I most likely will not get the package before Christmas. I am currently at my sisters about 3 hours from my home and will be here until after Christmas. Our mom, who I lived with in my city passed away in January of this year and this is the first Christmas without her. So I came to my sister's to spend the time with her. Mom was in a nursing home for the last 26 months of her life, but still, I was able to go and see her. She loved Christmas so much and loved decorating for it. The house is pretty much decorated the way that it was when she was there. I have made a few changes to make the decorations "mine". When I get home, I will take some photos of the decor and post them here.

Keep writing, however, cos as you can tell, I do have computer access!!

Angel

Hello Secret Pal

2004-12-14T19:42:00.000-08:00

Hello there my wonderful Secret pal,
I did receive the box today - what wonderful goodies there are!! I love the yarns - esp the Poof - what a wonderful scarf that will make!!!!! I love the deco ribbon also - Scarves I make in a couple of hours knitting time - The goodies in the ditty bag - the row counter I surely could have used as I was counting each one of 173 rows for the shawl that I just finished for my sister - but I have it for the next one that I do!!!! The other goodies are wonderful also. How sweet of your boyfriend to make the stitch markers - is he a knitter also - or does he just enable you to knit? Did I mention that I also do rubber stamping in my information?? I forget.

I know that it doesn't know in most of CA - does it snow where you are?? So far we have been lucky enough NOT to have snow - this time last year we had alrady had a couple of snows.

Thank you sooooooo much for the wonderful box of goodies. I will take photos and post when I have made garments from them. Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

The Box Is Here

2004-12-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hello KR Secret Pal

2004-12-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hello again secret pal,
I love that you send me messages here!! Well I checked my box today and there was no surprise there today - but that just means that I need to check again on Monday!!!!! Yahooooo!!! Are you ready for Christmas? I baked 8 cakes yesterday, wrapped presents and then today made about 5 pounds of pralines for Christmas gifts. I have got to get all this finished here becasue I am scheduled to go to my sisters on Wednesday until after Christmas. Means that it makes me REALLY busy. And when I get there, I still have to do the gifts for my bro in laws family.I think that I am going to make fudge for them again. I havent done that in a couple of years and they really liked it that time. I haven't been to their hous to celebrate the holidays for many years. But our Mom passed away in January and so that if I stay here I will be alone. I am looking forward to it.

What do you do for the holidays??

Thank you Secret Pal!!!!

2004-12-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a message to my Secret Pal from Knitter's Review on my blog. I know that you check my blog for messages - Thank you so much for the beautiful Angel ornament - She will be added to my tree of Angel and cherub ornaments. You are too cool!!!!

A Busy Beaver!!

2004-11-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I have posted - so says my KR secret pal!!! So I guess that I had better post, huh!.

I don't know what everyone else has been up to, but I have been knitting furiously trying to get some Christmas items finished. Hopefully, since I am off this week, I will get some knitting done to finish the 2 projects that I am working on. I also hope to get my Christmas decorating done since I will be out of town this weekend. I am changing the look of my tree this year. For many years, it has had Angels and cherubs on it. This year, I think that I want to either put glass ornaments on it or a combination of the 2 - we'll see. I got a new tree - one of the pre-lit ones so that I don't have to fight the battle of the lights.

I am knitting a shawl for my sister - its ok to put this here cos she has NO idea what a blog is!!! She was with me at a yarn shop last summer and asked about buying one. I love doing special things for her. She is gonne be tired of me during Christmas - since I invited me and Katie to their house. I am going to her place on the 16 and will be there until the 27 or 28th. We will spend the first couple of days backing cookies for The Cookie Factory. Bet cha don't know what that is - well have you ever heard of the cookie parties where everyone bakes a dozen cookies equal to the number of guests and everyone takes home a dozen different kinds of cookies? Well, my sister, the United Methodist District Superintendent started having them at her church a couple of years ago - with one exception - WE bake ALL of the cookies and her church members reaped the benefits. We bakes about 8 different kinds of cookies and make at least 7 recipes of each of them. Now that she is the DS, we are going to host the party for the ministers that she supervises. It will be great fun for them I am sure. And we have fun in that we get to spend a couple of days together baking cookies and chatting and eating cookies and giggling.

So what is Santa going to bring you? - well my special gift is currently sitting in the other bedroom, her name is Gwendolin, she has 4 legs, 4 bobbins, a wheel and makes wool. Yep, I got an Ashford Elizabeth Spinning Wheel for myself. I spent Saturday sanding and staining her and hopefully I will have some time in the next week or so to get back over to Stony Mountain Fiber to get some instruction on how to use her correctly. I tried 9 different wheels before I settled on this one. WHEW!! what a process.

Now - What are you doing to get ready for Christmas?

Knitting Angel

A busy weekend!!!!

2004-10-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! What a weekend I have had - Friday, I had to go to a meeting in Luray, VA. I was really ticked because Fridays are my day off - but I decided to turn it in to a fun day. A little research on the computer, and I found the name of a yarn shop in Middleburg, VA. So after the meeting, Katie and I set out (yes she went with me to the meeting) over the back roads to find the interstate. Let me just say, that the town of Front Royal needs to better mark the turns to the interstate - sheesh!

Anyway, I got to Middleburg which is a quaint town surrounded by lots of horse farms and wineries. The yarn shop was small but JAM PACKED with all sorts of goodies, yarns, rovings, spinning wheels, needlepoint items. Bob, the owner was sitting by the window knitting and he and I had a wonderful chat about men and knitting. I shared with him that one of my good friends is a male who knots and that he and I have started a knitting group in out local town. I saw much "eye Candy" but because I have 2 projects that I need to finish before the holidays, a shawl for my sister and an afghan for my god daughter. It was a wonderful day and I even took Katie in to a store just for her to do a little shopping - and a good time was had by all.

Knitting Angel

My First Fiber Festival!!

2004-10-03T05:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended my first Fiber Festival which is being held this weekend at Montpelier in Orange County, VA. Some much yarn and roving and so little time!!!!!! There were Vendors there from as far away as Vermont with all kinds of natural fibers. I bought a little something for my KR Secret pal and a few little somethings for me too!!!! I entered my shawl into competition but it did not win any awards. :-( , but look out for next year, I have already started planning that for that. I purchased some roving to continue to learn to spin and to improve my technique.

Did I mention? That I am learning to bowl??? I am on our church leaguse and it seems as though my technique there is also improved, Last week I had the 3rd highest score for women!!

By the way, Hi there KR Secret Pal!!

What's Happening!

2004-09-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted on the board. A dea friend of mine passsed away a couple of weeks ago of a massive heart attack. I spet quite a bit of time with his wife and their kids helping them during the difficult process.

Joe was a good man that had a bad break when he was in his early 20's. He got into some trouble and was convicted of breaking and entering (he fell through a rotted door on a unused barn). After many years, he made changes in his life and his civil rights were restored to him. He put this experience to good use to work with troubled youth in foster care until some idiot in government decided that because he had been convicted of a crime that he could no long do the work that he loved doing. Ove the past 2 years, however, he talked to many people, lawyers, doctors, judges, police officials and then wrote and sent 100+ packets to every senator in our state. A senator took notice of that packet (would you believe not out local senator?) and contacted him to verify its contents. From January to May of this year, he made many trips to Richmond and talked with EVERY senator and or their aide to lobby for their support. The Senator sponsored a bill (Senate Bill 612) for him and it passed. On October 25th, he would have been able to return to the work that he loved doing, being a foster parent. He died3 days after his 46th birthday and 59 days before becoming a foster parent. I guess, however that God had a better plan for him. I am so glad to have known Joseph Massie, and am so proud that he was my friend.

What's Next?

2004-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I have completed the shawl, and I am waiting for the next project which is the capelet from the Yarn Express website. http://yarnxpress.safeshopper.com/281/cat281.htm?470. I am knitting it in Berrocco Suede in the dark green shade. I am in the Poncho-a-Long that was started on Knitter's Review website and that starts on Wednesday - but ya know what - (shhh don't tell anyone) I am going to start mine this week, becasue I don't want to start another project. I have done the swatch and had my knitting guru help me to check the gauge.

I get lots of emails from many different websites and yesterday I got THE cutest knitted collars from this one - Berroco KnitBits(tm), #70. There are a couple friends that are going to get these for Christmas!!! But then that means that I have to finish my capelet, do my sisters shawl and then these collars. Think that I will get them all done??

2004-08-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Taa Daaa!!! - Here is the shawl that I have been working on for the past several months. I needed to complete it so that I can start my project for the PAL that starts on September 1.

My Review of Shops in Virginia

2004-08-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Did you know that according to Knitting Universe, there are 37 knitting shops in Virginia? Now, I happen to know that that has to be incorrect, because we have a new shop that opened in Richmond not too long ago, and I am sure that there are some that may not be listed. What I do know is that I have visited 10 shops in Virginia and 1 shop in Nashville and here is what I have learned - shops are different as are the owners and the clientele. I love a shop that is friendly! By this I mean that you are greeted when you come in to the store and the sales staff asks if they can help you. If I say that I am just browsing, please come back and check with me after about 10 minutes. I may have found something I want and need your help. Have lots of samples around the shop, many times, its the samples that are in the shop that catch my eye and "force" me to make a purchase. Don't get twisted if I touch the samples - I need to feel yarns to see if I like the feel of them. If I want the design, but not that yarn because it is too expensive, help me to find something comparable without making a face - or being grumpy. Have enough staff in the store on your busier days so that if you are helping me with something that you don't have to stop to answer the phone, or someone else who says - "I just have one question" and it turns in to a 5 minute discussion. Treat me as if I have spent $500 even though I may have just spent $15 .

Now, as I said, I have visited 11 shops in Virginia and Tennessee. I think that I shall talk about my favorites in the next several blogs and ignore the rest.

My most local shop is Orchardside in Raphine. It is a wonderful shop along a river that has many kinds of geese that visit there on a daily basis. Guy raises blackberries and red raspberries in the summer for picking. Carol runs the shop but believe me, when he is not busy elsewhere, Guy is also very knowledgeable about yarns and knitting. It is a wonderful shop full of many different types and prices of yarn. There are lots of samples of sweaters and scarves and shawls around the shop showcasing many different yarns. If you are a regular - or even semi regular, you are greeted by name when you enter the door. Each new person is also generally introduced to the knitters around the table who seem to gather there on a regular basis if you hang around long enough. If you are a newbie to knitting, Carol, Marsha (or even one of the table knitters) will help you to choose a simple (or sometimes not so simple) pattern and some yarn and will give you an impromptu lesson on how to get started. There are many different types of yarns (handpainted, mohairs, wools, cottons, silks, blends) hanging on hooks on the walls, in specially built cubbys on the walls, and in baskets. There is a large coat rack with quilted bags from Elisabeth Austen. There are several turning racks with pattern books and some books hang on walls as well. Don't see what you want, ask Carol or Marsha and they will order it for you. Sit at the table and knit awhile - or just visit with old friends. Carol will offer you a cup of hot herbal tea. Rusty the poodle will come and greet you and if you are really lucky, the peacock will sit on the banister and screech and spread his tail feathers for you. If you are in the Lexington Virginia area - stop in to visit at Orchardside - you'll be glad that you did.

A Good Time Was Had By All

2004-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went with a couple of my knit-ster friends to a craft night in Charlottesville at Stony Mountain Fibers (www.StonyMountainFibers.com). The owner of the shop is Barbara Gentry who raises sheep and their wool becomes some of the wonderful wools in her shop. We 3 arrived early which gave us some tine to to do a little shopping before the rest of the group got there. My friend Carol and I snatched up 2 of the cutest bags from Lantern Moon. They are colorful and plastic and look as if they are made like we used to make those gum wrapper chains - remember those?? The rest of the group arrived - a wonderful group of ladies who brought knitting projects, a spinning wheel, and a couple of ladies who brought their drop spindles. I had seen the drop spindle on the Knitty Gritty show and wanted to learn how to do this. I chose an Ashford drop spindle and one of the women was quickly showing me the mechanics of doing this. It is gonna take me a llllooonnngg time to make enough yarn to knit a nose hoodie!!! LOL but I do have a friend that has LOTS of roving, so I am going to go and visit him this afternoon. :-) Anyway - the ladies and my friends, Carol and Joe and I talked and chatted and I did lots of observing (this is generally the say that it goes with me). The ladies thought that the shawl that I am working on is wonderful - I was pretty pleased since it my first big project. It was a wonderful and colorful group of folks and I look forward to being able to go and spend time with them again next month.

2004-08-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

Katie at play

Knitting Ideas

2004-08-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I am still learning how to do this - this log thing. I spent most of yesterday afternoon trying to figure out how to upload pictures and stuff. I added Picaso and Hello and still no pictures. Maybe I'll get it figured out one of these days

Anyhow, more info on me - I am a social worker who works wih special needs children in a private agency. I have been in this job for almost 20 years and I love it.

I am the Mom to a 5 year old poodle named Katie who is really spoiled to death. She is my furbaby and she loves me. She and I live in the house where I was raised since 1965. My Mother passed away in January of this year. My older sister is a United Methodist District Superintendant for the Peninsula District of Virginia. She is the first African American woman to ho;d this honor in Virginia. I am very proud of her.

I have LOTS of hobbies that I enjoy - travel, spending time with friends, cooking, reading, rubber stamping and the reason for this blog - knitting.
I started doing this about 18 months ago when a friend took me to a yarn shop and there were all these wonderful yarns in there - not just the old boring yarns that I remember from years ago.

I got yarn to make a scarf and knitted that up in a couple of days. And then I went back and got more yarn - and made another one. I love the fun and funky yarns best. Well then there was the design that the shop had that the designer is marketing - I have made several of those also.

And now I do what many people do - I travel to different places, but NOT without checking yahoo first to find out where the LYS are. Do you do that too?? Maybe I should tell you about shops in places that I have been to - and what I have learned. But that might be a topic for another day.

My First News

2004-08-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, hello!
I guess that I am trying to create a blog. This is apparently what I need to do in order to have a secret pal on the KR forum.

Hopefully folks will stop by to visit me and say hello.