I want, I want, I want!

That big holiday in December is creeping up on us. All you have to do is look at the yard across the street from my house to erase any doubt. It looks like something the Griswold's would do, and Thanksgiving isn't even here yet. If you can't get a look at that, just listen to my kids. "I want..." "I really want..." "Ooooh, Mom! I want..." The television commercials and newspaper inserts aren't helping, either. And I can't even begin to describe the deluge of catalogs in my mailbox every day.

Unfortunately, I have found plenty to add to my wish list as well. Shall I show you?

Initial Knitting Needles from this seller on Etsy. (Edited to fix link to correct shop!)

Spindolyn for learning to spin yarn.

101 Designer One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant.

Yesterday this arrived:

Hooray! It's my Ravelry Beta t-shirt.

This also arrived:

The orange and brown reminded me of the colors for BGSU, where I had a wonderful time as a graduate assistant. It's called Banded Agate. The dark, blue/black colorway is from the Raven Clan series and is called Haida. Yummmmmm. Blue Moon Socks That Rock really rocks.

However, I have so much already. I have much to be thankful for, I know, and have more than so many. Lord knows I have more yarn than I can knit in a year. Therefore, I am not buying any more yarn until January. Instead, I have made a donation to the Offhand Designs Fundraiser. There are plenty of UFO's for me to finish when my pain level in my wrists will allow me to knit. There's enough yarn in my stash to keep me going for a long, long time. Check out the link and consider donating. There's a little incentive for donating, but it's not yarn.


Remember to count your blessings this week, dear friends. It's not about the turkey.

Friends, Fashion Statement... and yarn

First of all, thank you. Thank you to those of you who sent emails and left comments with good wishes for my friend. Things are getting better, but it's going to take time. Your good thoughts and energy and prayers are so appreciated! A special thank you goes to those of you who let me know that you are available to *me* day or night if I should ever be in need. It was a time for my friend to Find Out Who Your Friends Are.


Onward...

Earlier this month, Sarah Lou went to Stitches Midwest, in Chicago, and had the great pleasure in partaking in all of the yarny goodness there. Being a thoughtful and generous friend, she brought me this beautiful gift.

"My Stash is Bigger than Yours"

That's the bracelet I want to wear. Instead, I am wearing this. X2. And for the record, Sarah's stash is bigger!

Quite the fashion statement, no?

But not all is bleak. There is sock yarn. Yummy sock yarn. The Loopy Ewe recently celebrated its one year anniversary. What's a FIRST anniversary without a celebration? Of course, there was a special yarn to commemorate the event. Of course, I had to have some! "Happy Anniversary to Ewe" (top) is shown with two other wonderful purchases.

And, purely out of yarn envy, because Sarah got some at Stitches, I had to buy some Socks That Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. That's "Pebble Beach" and "Foofaraw."

Last night at Yarn Haven was too funny to even try to describe. Somehow we ended up on the topic of shaving monkey butts. I blame Becky and Sarah. The baby socks are almost finished. I have one chemo cap nearing completion. Last night I received a free ball of Plymouth Bamboo to make another.

Progress

Look! I really am knitting and making progress. The Baby Surprise Jacket is looking exactly as it should! I have about 30 rows left to knit. They are the loooooong rows, but I am feeling confident that this little booger will be completed in time for the baby shower. Tomorrow I will go looking for buttons. I have some in mind already.

As much as I love knitting baby things, I can honestly say I have no desire for another baby!

More progress has been made. I often mention Yarn Haven and our Tuesday nite antics there. I can now point you toward *drumroll please* Yarn Haven! One of my very favorite places has now joined the world wide web, which is another one of my favorite places.

The next two photos are just for viewing pleasure. My love affair with Cider Moon yarns continues. Last week all glacier weight yarns were on sale. Knowing my self-imposed yarn restriction for July was coming up, I treated myself to 3 colorways.

Winter Wheat, Winter Twilight, Positano

Closeup of Winter Twilight and Positano

I will get back to socks. And my Log Cabin Afghan. And my secret project. I will. I will. I will.

That Was Fun

Tuesday night knitting at Yarn Haven ended a little early because of the scheduled fireworks. Some of us decided we needed a little more together time and headed over to a local Mexican place for some food and knitting time. The nice thing about ignoring the fireworks was that we pretty much had the place to ourselves!

Becky should have skipped the fireworks and joined us. Seriously. We were much safer. Now who would have ever thought an evening out with me would have been safer than an evening with Becky's family? Huh. (I must be slipping!!) But before that, Becky gave me these lovely gifties; a book she started and didn't care for and yarn she dyed and spun herself. Yay! (The yarn told me it wants to be mittens when it grows up.)

Today, while out swimming with the kids, I happened upon these lovely flowers. Upon closer inspection, however, the beauty was a bit tainted. Just left of the center of that flower is a tick!! Most bugs don't bug me, but ticks are icky!

I am knitting away on the Baby Surprise Jacket and pretty much ignoring everything else except to knit an occasional row or two on my socks. Right now I'm into Day 6 of my 10-day schedule. As soon as BSJ is done, it is open season on all my other knitting. Even while driving up to Ann Arbor with Sarah to drop into Knit A Round yesterday, it BSJ all the way. Buddy B got a sneak peek at my secret knitting with the silk and cashmere from him and it met with his approval; more because he was happy I am finally knitting with it than anything, I think. I'm twitching to get back to it, tiring of the miles and miles of garter stitch in the BSJ. (I promise, you WILL get to see.)

If you ever doubt the power of Knitters and their effects on society, and even the internet, check out what my friend Liz at Fido Knits has to say today. It will make you think, and give you a grin!

My kids arrived home safely after 6 days out of town with their dad. This morning my mom called and wanted Mayhem to come and stay with her and Dad for a few days, so off she went this evening. She was home long enough for me to do laundry and re-pack her bag. Bye, Mayhem. Be good for Oma and Opa.

On The Road Again

Thelma and Louise, er, Karen and Sarah Lou trekked to Lansing, MI to visit the reknowned Threadbear Fiber Arts store. The best way to describe it is to picture a store about the size of your local Michael's, filled just with yarn and knitting/crocheting supplies. Top to bottom. Front to back. I think I'm still a bit high from the wool fumes.

See some of the group? Sarah Lou, Knitter Bunny Kelli, Sarah Peasley (one of her patterns was on display in the shop... Dude!) and in the front right, Nia. The green shirts in the background are Renee (ponytail) and her mom. Kelli wanted to know immediately where my pasties were!

Sarah and Kelli are comparing bags. Hmmm, Namaste (Karen's bag) vs. Lexie Barnes?

Normally, I'm not a fan of orange. This yarn spoke to me. Once I had it in my hand, and read the name of the colorway, I knew it had to come home with me. Look at the closeup...

Yes, you are reading that correctly!

It's "Mayhem"!

I finished sock one of my Thuja pair today. That makes 1/2 of a pair done for Summer of Socks!

I bought more yarn than that Mayhem, friends. Colinette, Opal, Trekking XXL... All sock yarn!

Leaving Threadbear, Sarah and I went to Melting Moments in E. Lansing, right across the street from the Michigan State University campus. We needed a little something to tide us over for the drive home. People's Choice (vanilla ice cream with peanuts, caramel and chocolate covered pretzels) in a waffle cone was just the thing! Once we hit T-Town, we decided dinner was in order and stopped for some delicious sushi.

Another successful, fiber road trip is added to the log book. Threadbear was great.

I do have to say one thing, though. Dudes, your store is great, your website is beautiful Now, BUY A SIGN! A store like Threadbear should be visible!

Here and There

Warning! Photo intensive post today!

First up, a couple photos of my most recent Longaberger basket arrivals. They are so new I haven't even gotten the shrink wrap removed from the wooden lid. And the lid? All the better for helping with the stash of yarn! The little dark brown basket is shown to give you some idea of just how small the weave is that the talented people at Longaberger use on some of these baskets.

Next? Yarn p0rn of course! Claudia Handpainted in Peppermint Mocha and Copper Pennies. Cider Moon (glacier) in Superman and (blizzard) Morning Sky. Wipe the drool off your monitors and keyboards now.

What else? Oh yes. The gorgeous, cranberry Namaste Messenger Bag. Trust me, this bag holds everything but the kitchen sink. Inside mine you'll find 3 projects, 3 patterns, 2 books, a notebook, notions bag...

Lastly, the project I can't put down right now; the beginning of my Log Cabin afghan. It's already 2 blocks larger than the photo taken earlier this evening! Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. The side with the royal and green also has navy blue.

Becky has tagged me for the Seven Random Facts meme, so watch for some fascinating, little-known details about me soon. Like, just as soon as I fabricate them! ha ha ha ha ha

Told Ya

Yesterday I mentioned that I have been buying a bit too much yarn lately. Maybe. I promised a photo to show you what has crossed my doorstep most recently. But first, a little disclaimer.

I'm sure I've forgotten to include something in the photo. In fact, I know that there are 4 skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in my car (destined to become Rusted Root) and 3 balls of wool from the Yarn Tasting in the car as well. The Namaste Messenger Bag I ordered expressly for my knitting hasn't arrived yet. That's the last of the packages. Honest.

Notice my Loopy Ewe tote? Yay me!

So, let's take a closer look... Claudia Handpainted in Summer Rose (red) and Shark (turquoise and black) at the top. Chewy Spaghetti in Fresh at the bottom right. Those all came from The Loopy Ewe. The green/blue/lavender yarn at the bottom is Seacoast Handpainted Panda in Rain. To its left is a freebie that came in my Loopy Ewe order, Online Nepal Supersock. Last, but not least, Duets Sock Yarn in So Chic. This comes with the variegated sock yarn for the top and foot, and the solid color to make the toe and heel.

Not all of this came from The Loopy Ewe. I did order some from Pick Up Sticks, an online source out of Canada. They included a free mini sock blocker keychain with my order.

I like my yarn issues.

Very Tasty

I was cordially invited, by Sarah, to attend a yarn tasting last night with her and Johari. The event took place at LYS, Yarn Haven. Having never attended a yarn tasting, I found myself wondering what to expect. How well-cooked would the yarn be? Felted or raw? Does one use fingers or sticks? What if something tasted icky? What if I *gasp* spilled something? I decided to take my set of Denise Interchangeables just to be safe.

Being among other fiber fanatics, I shouldn't have even worried a single bit. Sarah did insist on taking a few photos of us tasting the yarn. (And I DO mean tasting!) Photos may show up over on her blog. (Go wish her a Happy Birthday!!) I didn't take any pictures. I do have a shot of what we tasted, though:



Starting at the top left and going clockwise, Amaizing (made from corn), Paca De Seda (alpaca), Karaoke, Dream, and Flake Cotton (orange). I enjoyed knitting with the Flake Cotton. The thick/thin texture of the yarn creates a pattern of thick and thin stitches in whatever you knit. I didn't buy any of these yarns, though. I bought 3 balls of Naturally Nazareth wool in shades of blue (on clearance) to make a felted bag and some Addi Turbo needles.

Why more Addi's? you ask. This week, while babysitting students who were making up the required Ohio Achievement Tests, I taught myself a new trick. Look!



Yes, that's a sock on two circular needles. Lorna's Laces Red Rover, if you want to know the yarn color. Addi size 2's. Last night I bought two pair of size 1's.

Why size 1's? In anticipation of this, which arrived in the mail today. Yarn Pirate yarn!!!

"Malamute" is here! and "Cannon Beach."

The long-coveted "Malamute"

When I get stressed or have decision-making to do, a couple of things happen. I lose sleep because I can't shut off my brain. Second, I have occupy my brain with something else, like learning something new. Hence the sock on two circular needles. I just needed to wrap my brain around something other than what has been bouncing around in my head lately. Might as well learn a new trick, right? I also cast-on for the Baby Surprise Jacket this week. (Don't worry, it's not for me!)

Yarn P0rn

Plain and simple. Yarn p0rn today. It was an absolutely perfect day to take photos outside.

I have Cider Moon's Glacier yarn in two different colorways for your viewing pleasure. Nope. Make that three. My sock in progress begged to be included in the photo shoot! You know how pushy socks can be. I tried to hide the sock in the daffodils, but that pushy sock kept forcing its way to the front by the time I grabbed the camera.

Presenting Jackie O (partial proceeds of each sale go to the Komen Foundation)...

And the brilliant Go-Go...

The two together... my crabapple tree is ready to bloom.

Last but not least, the pushy sock in progress, in Banana Cabana.

That's it for today. I spent the day outside, knitting, reading, playing, got the car washed. Hope it was beautiful in your neighborhood.