1 day away.....

From the start of the Tour de Fleece 2012!

I'm actively on 3 teams this year, but hope to be spinning from 2 other dyer's as well.

This years goals....


From Two If By Hand: L-R: Pope Mittens on Finn, Public Market on SW BFL, and Flowers & Football Tops on Organic Merino...

Nest Fiber Studio's Gaga Air on Falkland...will become sock yarn...I love to spin Falkland and it'll be navajo plied as well!

awesome colors!!

Southern Cross Fibre's Dark Cheddar

Which also will become sock yarn...."Cheeto's sock yarn"

Cupcake Fiber Company's Orange Chocolate in BFL/nylon

I've been wanting to spin these cupcakes for a while...more nervous I won't do them justice, but I'm gonna dive in.  I'll need 6 bobbins for these...may do 3, then ply, then so on...

For a Sip (spin in progress) spin, this will also become sock yarn.

Fatcatknit's Moxie in Merino/Bamboo.  I started bobbin 3 as a warm up on Thursday. Most likely will become my first ply of the tour (need empty bobbins at all times ;)



Then...cause I'll be a "Girl on Fire" maybe these too!! Haha that's the real colorway name ;)


They all fit into this basket....Wonder what I'll really get done!

That's 1/2 the fun truly....I have a goal, but don't beat myself up about it, just try to spin everyday ;)

Take Me Back Thursday

Some blasts from the past!


After climbing the Abol Trail at Mount Katahdin.

Whew, what a day that was!  I forgot sunscreen and the backs of my legs were so sunburned I couldn't go to work/school for a few days.  I don't look too thrilled do I? It was an accomplishment I never want to repeat LOL!

In my running days....

On the High School 440 relay team, I think this was the State meet....no, we didn't win :(

College graduation circa. 1983..

No, I did not knit that sweater ;)

1.5 years later and I was in Xray school.

Thankfully, we only had to wear the nurse caps at ceremonies!

Gosh...I was so young....

The 2 year Sweater

I should say the first of the 2 year sweaters! What can I say, it's hard to stick with a long project for me.  I'll either finish it or frog it.


Started in July of 2010....


More progress made 1 year later after the move....



In December, had this much left to do....

Finally....finished....

It is pretty soft for a cotton yarn.  It has a lot of plies, so that part isn't fun.




A bit hot to wear it right now, even though it is cotton.


Button detail.  I actually made 4 buttonholes, but only decided to use 2 right now.



Fits good on the shoulders too.  Not sure the open front is the most flattering, but oh well.


Liesl by Ysolda
Araucania Pomaire-multy, 3 skeins
US 10 & 10.5 needles

No known mods.  However, lining up the pattern on the sleeves is challenging to say the least. Most people I researched had trouble with the left sleeve.  Of course, I didn't, it was the right sleeve that about did me in!  Many restarts later I decided just to read the knitting and not the pattern and viola it was done.

Not in time for my son's graduation, but done nonetheless.

Of course I just frogged one sweater wip, and started a new one....but stay tuned, I plan on finishing another 2 yr sweater next month :D

Take Me Back Thursday the Me Edition!

Long time since I did one of these posts, and in my corner of the states it's only 2:30 pm, so still Thursday ;)

I was looking for pictures for a contest, then I realized how many pictures I have and how I so need to organize/scan them! Yikes!!!!!!!

Anyhow, here I am a wee little baby in my Mom's arms.  On the left is my Grandmother (Me'Me') and her mother on the right. 4 generations!



My 1st Birthday Party!!

Not looking too happy am I?

My tap dancing career--shortlived ;)

One of my kids must have wanted to add their artwork to the picture....sigh...


Braids and bangs.  When my daughter was younger, she looked at this really quick and said how did I get that picture of her...um..I said, look at the clothes, did you ever wear anything like that and let alone the hair color! (she was blonde and curly haired)

Stay tuned for next week's edition!

PS. How and what are you using to save your priceless photos?  Hoping there is an easy way!

What's up Wednesday!

First of all, newest pictures of my recent graduates ;)




A totally frogged sweater!! Going to reknit it into this one!

Some spinning going on! Prepping for the Tour de Fleece that starts June 30th! This fiber is merino/bamboo and a dream to spin!

Fatcatknits Moxie Colorway fyi ;)

Oh, and if anyone is looking for a jumbo DD flyer with extra bobbins for an Ashford Traveller, I'm selling the entire package for $120 plus shipping.

The flyer and bobbin to the left are lacquered, the 3 bobbins to the right are not. Also seen is the bushing that goes on the maiden that has a removable piece so you can use both regular and jumbo flyers.  About 3 yrs old and barely used.  Email me if you are interested :)

Look! Up in the sky!!!

As I was packing up the truck for our 2nd WWKIP (I'll post about that later ;) event early Saturday morning. I heard the dog barking and looked up and saw these!!


Cool or what!


This one looked like it was going to land on a neighbors house, but it didn't.


This one too, in almost the same position.


Blue skies or what!  I love my blue skies around here ;)


This one almost landed in my back yard. At least I thought so for a minute ;)


You can see here where they are getting ready to build another house.  Yes, 3 around me are in progress.


Which you can see right here.

Made me smile all day :)

Beat the Heat Yarn Tour...the loot

Well, a few of you have asked what I got on my little trip to Flagstaff so here it is. I was happy I had destashed some unwanted yarns so I could shop last weekend.


Lantern Moon Rice Basket!  I've always wanted one of these.  I love how they go from this.....

To this!!


I couldn't resist these beauties...still on a blue kick around here...

Fyberspates DK merino/silk!  Sooo soft!

Remember the Churro sheep I showed you last post?

Here's 2 balls o'roving ;)  Very cheap too!  8 oz for $12 is pretty good in my book!


My splurge is this 4 oz. of Black Alpaca roving...

or should I say ribbons of softness!!  From AlAnn Ranch Alpacas.

At the LYS I picked this Taiyo Sock yarn up to knit something with...shawl I think...


This is a pile of ocean blue ohsosoft Alpaca from the same ranch as before.

It's not mine though.  I'm spinning it for a good frined. :) My first custom spin.

Speaking of spinning, stay tuned.

Flagstaff Wool & Fiber Festival

This past weekend I got to attend my first local wool festival in Flagstaff with my knitting group. The trip is actually called the "Beat the Heat Yarn Tour"


This is the main building of the Pioneer Museum

It was a nice trip up the mountains (about 1.5 hrs). I could so live in Flagstaff, surrounded my more mountains and just an awesome place :D


Here are some cute sheep awaiting their turn to be bossed around (herded) by a dog.


Here he is at work. Very hard to photograph moving targets!

Some geese awaiting their herding turn.



Alpaca's awaiting their turn for shearing.


Here's Scout, I just love his coloring!


Got to watch my friend be an alpaca whisperer and help with the shearing.


Close up of pass # 1


Then, I spied these guys.  Churro Sheep!  I just love this picture!

I had never heard of  them until now.

Close up of one of them being sheared.

I've never spun that fiber before, but soon I'll find out.  Not a soft as alpaca fleece, but very hardy and useful for outerwear and rugs.

Here's an actual chuck wagon


So interesting.


We were talking about just how it would have been to travel across the country in one of these.


We had great weather and got to eat some good Greek food which I've been missing since we moved....almost 1 year ago.  Also got to spend the afternoon at Purl in the Pines where we hung out and knit and fondled lots of nice yarns. Spent the night eating pizza and knitting and chatting away.

What a great weekend with good friends :)